IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Sciences 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


mk 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


□ 
D 
D 

n 


• 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

nil 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
uverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculie 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


D 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

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Bound  with  other  material/ 
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mais,  lorsque  C3la  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6x6  film6es. 

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sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


D 


V 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
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Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
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Pages  detached/ 
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Transparence 

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Includes  supplementary  materia 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


I  I  Pages  damaged/ 

I  I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~7|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I  I  Pages  detached/ 

I  I  Showthrough/ 

I  I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I  I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


J 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Dana  Porter  Arts  Library 
University  of  Waterloo 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Dana  Porter  Arts  Library 
University  of  Waterloo 


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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
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dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
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plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commengant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmd  i  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

POPULAR  BOOKS 

BY 

Joseph  Banvard,  D.  D. 

FIRST    EXPLORERS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA;    or,    Discoveries 
AND  Adventures  in  the  New  World. 

PIONEERS  OF  THE  NEW  WORLD. 

SOUTHERN  EXPLORERS  AND  COLONISTS. 

PLYMOUTH  AND  THE  PILGRIMS;  or,  Incidents  of  Adventure  m 
THE  History  of  the  First  Settlers. 

SOLDIERS    AND    PATRIOTS   OF    THE  AMERICAN    REVOLU- 
TION. 

Every  library  should  be  furnished  with  this  series  of  American  Histories.— 
New  England  Farmer. 

No  more  interesting  and  instructive  reading  can  be  put  into  the  hands  of 
^c,\sX\\.— Portland  Transcript. 

Every  American  should  own  these  hooVs.— Scientific  A  merican. 

All  published  uniform  with  this  volume.  Price  $1.25  each.  Sold  by  all 
Booksellers,  and  sent  free  of  postage  on  receipt  of  price,  by 

D.  LOTHROP  &  CO.,  BOSTON. 


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Council  of  Chiefs  and  Wairiors. 


A  candidate  for  Medicine  Man  "  Looking  at  the  Sun." 


FIRST  EXPLORERS 


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FIRST  EXPLORERS 


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NORTH     AMERICA; 


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DISCOVERIES    AND    ADVENTURES    IN 
THE    NEW    WORLD. 


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BY 


// 


JOSEPH  BANVARD,  D.  D. 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 
BY 

G.  T.   DAY,  D.  D. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  D.  LOTHROP  &  CO. 


DOY£^  N.  H. :  G.  T.  DAY  AND  CO. 


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rRISTED  BT  DUFFT,  CabHMAN  &  Co. 
603  Washington  St.,  Boston. 


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INTRODUCTION. 


This  volume  deals  with  those  adventures  and 
adventurers  that  are  connected  with  our  own 
country.  And  the  readers  will  easily  perceive 
that  they  need  not  go  far  from  home  in  order  to 
find  the  points  where  strange  and  wonderful  and 
heroic  deeds  have  been  done,  and  thrilling  ex- 
periences have  been  shared.  The  men  who  were 
engaged  in  exploring  and  settling  America,  after 
its  discovery  by  Columbus,  often  met  difficulties, 
dangers  and  surprises  equal  to  those  which  later 
adventurers  have  met  while  traversing  the  wild- 
est portions  of  Asia  and  Africa;  and  they  dis- 
played a  bravery  amid  hardships  and  perils  which 
has  been  seldom  equaled.  To  know  what  it  cost 
to  lay  open  this  country  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
world,  and  prepare  the  way  for  those  who  now 
turn  the  forests  into  fruitful  fields  and  build 
cities  where  so  lately  stretched  the  wilderness, 

5 


.  A 


6 


INTRODUCTION. 


will  help  to  make  us  prize  the  homes  where  we 
now  live  amid  peace  and  plenty.  And  the  coun- 
try will  wear  a  fresh  interest  in  our  eyes  when  wo 
have  learned  of  the  striking  adventures  connected 
with  the  portions  of  it  with  which  we  are  perhaps 
every  day  brought  in  contact. 

In  this  volume,  the  author  has  told  the  story  of 
these  early  adventures  and  adventurers,  in  a  way 
that  can  hardly  fail  to  awaken  a  deep  interest  in 
the  readers  and  add  to  their  valuable  knowledge. 

G.  T.  D. 


Aftei 
of  years 
ments  w 
portion  ( 
and  alsc 
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I  explorati 
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these  ex< 
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in  their 
as  the  \v 
this  intei 
ligerent. 
romantic 
graphicaj 
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these  ad 
of  the  f 
has  been 
fere  witl 
particula 


PREFACE. 


After  the  discovery  of  America,  a  numoer 
of  years  elapsed  before  any  permanent  settle- 
ments were  formed,  especially  on  the  nonL"  rn 
portion  of  the  continent.  During  this  interviiJ, 
and  also  after  colonies  began  to  be  p]  mtod, 
courageous  Dnd  enterprising  men  made  various 
explorations  along  its  almost  intermiribtc 
coaslh,  and  into  its  vast,  unknown  interior.  In 
these  excursions  they  had  numerous  interviews 
with  the  natives,  to  whom  they  were  as  strange, 
in  their  appearance,  language,  and  manners, 
as  the  wild  natives  were  to  them.  Sometimes 
this  intercourse  was  friendly,  at  other  times  bel- 
ligerent. It  resulted  in  many  adventures,  both 
romantic  and  tragic,  and  also  in  many  geo- 
graphical discoveries. 

To  give  an  account  of  the  more  important  of 
these  adventures  and  discoveries  is  the  object 
of  the  present  volume.  Chronological  order 
has  been  observed,  so  far  as  it  would  not  inter- 
fere with  the  continuous  narrative  respecting 
particular  individuals. 


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8 


PREFACE. 


Beginning  with  a  brief  account  of  Christo- 
pher Columbus,  we  have  given  the  adventures 
of  John  and  Sebastian  Cabot,  the  discoverers 
of  North  America ;  Cortereal,  the  kidnapper 
of  the  Labrador  Indians ;  Ponce  de  Leon,  the 
romantic  wanderer  after  the  fountain  of  perpet- 
ual youth;  Verazzano,  the  Florentine  adven- 
turer ;  Narvaez,  the  Floridian  gold-seeker ;  Car- 
tier,  the  discoverer  of  the  St.  Lawrence ;  De 
Soto,  the  proud  cavalier,  who  discovered  the 
Mississippi  only  to  be  buried  beneath  its  waters ; 
Frobisher,  who  carried  home  cargoes  of  worth- 
less stone,  under  the  impression  that  it  was 
gold  ore ;  John  Davis,  the  bold  navigator  among 
the  icebergs  of  the  north ;  Hore,  with  his  man- 
eating  crew  ;  Weymouth,  and  his  conspirators ; 
Hudson,  who  first  discovered  the  great  artery 
of  New  York ;  Champlain,  the  Canadian  pi- 
oneer; Marquette,  the  gentle  missionary;  La 
Salle,  the  indomitable  explorer  of  the  Father 
of  Waters ;  and  Father  Hennepin,  the  discov- 
erer of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

From  these  accounts  a  correct  opinion  may 
be  formed  of  the  kind  of  experience  which  those 
underwent  who  first  traversed  the  coast  and 
explored  the  interior  of  this  great  continent 


t 
t 


LIST 


OF 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


I. 
II. 
III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

xin. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 


FRONTISPIECE, 
ILLUSTRATED  TITLE  PAGE. 

NOVEL  MODE  OF  BARTERING,    .  43 

MAN-RIDING   KING,                              ...  47 

DE  SOTO'S   LANDING  IN  FLORIDA,     .           .  83 

FIRING  OF  DE  SOTO'S    CANNON,    ...  191 

DE   SOTO  OFFERING  PRAYER  FOR   BAIN,  135 

FROBISUER   SEIZING  AN   INDIAN,       .           .  149 

THE  STERN  THIEF, 225 

LA  SALLE'S  VOYAGE  DOWN  LAKE  MICHIGAN,  26S 


SHOOTING  A  BEAR  AFTER  GRAPES, 
,LA  SALLE  HUNTING  OPOSSUMS,     . 
RAISING  THE  THREE  CALUME  TS,      . 

INDIAN  DANCE 

INDIAN  MODE  OP  KINDLING   A  FIRE, 
INDIAN  WEAPONS,        .  .  .  , 


268 

278 
300 
303 
825 


i 

i 


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America  ni 
Island.  — 
Third  Vo) 
He  discovi 
Indians.— 
bis  Coastii 
desired.  — 
tion.«.  —  Ti 
Second  Vt 
tereaL  —  h 
Leon. — S< 
Effect  of 
Cliimerical 
eries. — Oi 
tions.  —  Pc 
ing.— His 


Traffic  in  bui 
ica.— A  nj 
covered.  — 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

America  unknown.  —  Columbus.  —  His  Difficulties.— .DfscoTen  C«t 
Island.  —  Erroneous  Conjecture.  —  Columbus's  Second  Voyage.  — 
Tliird  Voyage.  —  Discovers  the  Main  Land.  —  John  Cabot's  Patent— 
He  discovers  Labrador.  —  The  Natives.  —  Productions.  —  He  kidnaps 
Indians. — Sebastian  Cabot.  —  Discovers  a  great  River.  —  Extent  of 
his  Coasting.  —  Caspar  Cortereal.  —  Old  Way  to  India.  —  New  Way 
desired.  —  Cortereal's  Object.  —  Reaches  the  Coast  —  His  Observa- 
tioiu<.  —  Turns  Kidnapper.  —  Enthusiasm  on  his  Return  Home.  —  II  is 
Second  Voyage.  —  Discovers  Greenland.  —  His  End.  —  Miguel  Cor- 
tereaL  —  His  Voyage.  —  Results.  —  Spanish  Conquests.  —  Ponce  do 
Leon. — Seeks  for  Gold.  —  Imprudent  Cliie£  —  Ponce's  Promotion.  — 
Effect  of  Imagination.  —  Welcome  News.  —  Ponce  enthusiastic.— 
Chimerical  Voyage.  —  Mysterious  Fountain. — Accidental  Discov- 
eries.—  One  by  Ponce.  —  Origin  of  "Florida." — Spanish  Assump- 
tions..— Ponce  a  Governor. —  Loses  Reputation. — Attempts  a  Land- 
ing. —  Hia  Reception  by  the  Indians. — Defeat  and  Death. 


CHAPTER   II. 

Traffic  in  human  Beings. — John  de  Verazzana  — Coasts  North  Amer- 
ica.— A  narrow  Escape. — Fears  and  Friends.  —  Two  Squaws  dis- 
covered. —  A   Child    stolen.  —  Verazzano'a    Discoveries.  —  Eaten 


12 


CONTENTS. 


I  h- 


Newport  —  Block  Island.  —  Suspicious  Indians.  —  Fears  overcome.— 
Two  Kings.  — Their  Attire.  —  Effects  of  Prejudice  against  Yellow.— 
Mirrors  rejected.  —  A  novel  Mode  of  Bartering. —  Contemptuous  Con- 
duct. —  Verazzano  returns.  —  First  Description  of  North  America.— 
Claims  of  France. —  Verazzano'a  Death. 34 


iti 


\'W 


(JHAPrER   III. 

Attempts  at  colonizing.  —  Failures —  Pamphilo  de  Narvae/.. — Terrific 
Hurricane.  —  Sacrilegious  Proceeding — Narvaez  seeks  for  Gold. — 
A  Man-riding  Chief. — An  Accident  —  A  Town  taken.— Ambush.— 
The  Party  diminished. — The  Sea  found.  —  Original  Boat-building.— 
Perilous  Coasting.  —  Boats  scattered.  —  End  of  the  Expedition.  —  Al- 
▼aro  Nunez  escapes.  —  Juan  de  Ortiz  remains  behind. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

James  Cartier.  —  Island  of  Birds.  —  Effect  of  Musketry.  —  Efiect  of 
Presents — Timid  Damsels.  —  Miserable  Livers — Great  Gulf  dis- 
covered and  explored.  —  Donnacouna — Gives  away  two  of  bis 
Children.  —  Frightlhl  Stories.  —  Strange  Mode  of  Warning.  — Tbe 

River.  —  HoChelega Native    Hospitality.  —  Venerated    Chie£  — 

Meaning  of  "  Montreal."—  Dreadful  Disease.  —  A  deceptive  Device.  ■— 
Ceremonies  and  Vows.  —  Indian  Remedy.  —  King  stealing.  —  Th« 
Trap  laid,  and  sprung.  —  Grief  turned  to  Joy.  —  Kidnapped  Kmg 
introduced  to  Court.  —  Lord  of  Roberval.  —  Expedition  of  Hore.  — 
Fat  Birds.  —  Following  the  Natives.  —  Primitive  Cooking.— Intense 
Sufferings. — Cannibalism.  —  The  fatal  Lot — Starvation  in  the  Midst 
of  Plenty.  —  Welcome  Arrival.  —  Piracy.  —  The  two  Ki  ngs SI 


CHAPTER   V. 

Hernando  de  Sotd.  —  His  Bravery  and  Skill.  —  His  Horsemanship  be- 
fore the  Inca.  —  The  Inca's  Cruelty.  — De  Soto's  Wealth.  — His 
Appearance  at  Court.  —  Isabella  de  Bobadilla  a  Bride.  —  Return  of 


I-: 
Mi; 


CONTENTS. 


13 


Nunez. —  His  exciting  Reiwrts.  —  Mode  of  rondurting  ExpediticuH 
of  Discovery.  —  De  Soto  assumes  all  Expense.  —  Portuguese  Volun- 
teers,—  Their  Enthusi<isin.  —  Andrew  de  Vasconsclos  and  Follow- 
ers.—  Grand  Review.  —  Appearance  of  the  Spaniards.  —  Amior  of 
the  Portuguese. —  Second  Review — Humiliating  Contrast.  —  The 
Number  of  Adventurers.  —  Conversion  of  the  Indians  desired. — 
Priests  and  Monks 68 


CHAPTER    VI. 

The  Departure.  —  Canary  fj^lands — Merriment.  —  The  beautiful  Leo- 
nora,—  Arrival  at  Cuba,  —  Spanish  Amusements.  —  An  Officer  cash- 
iered.—  An  important  Volunteer.  —  Juun  de  Anasco,  —  Goes  in 
search  of  a  Flarbor. —  His  Adventures.  —  The  Land.  —  First  Bat- 
tle. —  Porrallo's  Exploit.  —  An  im|)osing  Scene. —  Inconveniences.  — 
Guides  desert. — Native  Houses.  —  Revenge.  —  Exploring  Parties. — 
Hear  of  a  Spaniard. — Juan  Ortiz.  —  A  happy  Meeting.  —  The  cleft 
Stick.  —  Spanish  Captives.  —  Their  Tortures.  —  Female  Kindness.  — 
Juan's  Sutlcrings.  — '  A  hot  Bed. —  Midnight  Encounter  in  a  Grave- 
yard.—  Juan  diK)nied  a  Sacrifice.  —  Female  Informer.  —  A  Wife  last 
for  Kindness'  Sake 78 


CHAPTER   VII. 

The  Vessels  return.  —  Urribarracaxi.  —  Treacherous  Guides Treat- 
ment of  the  Dead.  —  An  Indian  Freak.  —  A  sagacious  Hound.  —  Its 
End. —  A  villanous  Plot.  —  The  Counterplot.  —  Deceitful  Review. — 
Dreadful  Conflict.  —  Warriors  in  the  Water.  —  A  second  Plot.  —  A 
fearful  Struggle.  —  A  desperate  Captive — A  narrow  Escape In- 
dians compelled  to  massacre — Its  Object — A  difficult  March. — 
Power  of  the  Bow.  —  Towns  abandoned — The  Reason 93 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Exploring    Parties.  —  Guide    murdered.  —  Ocean    found.  —  Tracea   of 
Narvaez.  —  Signals.  —  Aiiasco's  Expedition.  —  Avoids  the  Natives.  — 


li 

h 

('* . 

r 
k 

r    ? 
,    4 


2 


14 


CONTENTS. 


U  i 


If  is  Dangers.  —  SufTerings  from  Cold.  —  Suspense.  —  Acute  Smell- 
ing.—  A  Breakfast  Party.  —  Attacked  and  taken.  —  Plans  fur  an 
Emergency.  —  Joyful  Disa)very. —  Happy  Meeting.  —  Captives  liber- 
ated. —  Diftltrent  Routes.  —  Calderon's  Courage.  —  Signals  discov- 
ered.—  A  fat  Chief.  —  His  Concealmen  — Capture.  —  Stratagem.— 
Escape.  —  Declarations  of  the  Guard. — Superstition  and  Necroman- 
cy.—De  Soto's  Policy. 101 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Winter  Experience.  —  Golden  Reports.  —  Effects  of  Cruelty.  —  Tree 
shot  down.  —  Cannon  left.  —  Cofaqiii.  —  Peter's  Alarm.  —  His  Bap- 
.  tism.  —  Large  Escort.  —  The  Course  lost.  —  The  Army  bewildered.- 
The  Swine  useful.  —  Anasco's  Success.  —  Beautiful  S»iuaw-Sachem.— 
Her  Courtesy.  —  A  Suicide.  —  The  Princess  captured.  —  Gold  provea 
to  be  Copper.  —  Pearls.  —  Spanish  Mail.  —  The  Princess  escapes.  — 
Her  Cruelty.  —  Gigantic  Chief.  —  Battle  of  Mauvila.  —  Engagement 
of  the  Rearguard.  —  Results  of  the  Battle.  —  A  Night  of  Agony..     ..  116 


CHAPTER    X. 

Ecclesiastical  Losses.  —  Dry  Mass.  —  Rumor  of  Ships. —  De  Soto's 
Change.  —  Battle  at  Night. —  Moscoso  cashiered.  —  Novel  Bedding.— 
Fortified  Town.  —  The  Mississippi  discovered.  —  Great  Change.  — 
Indian's  Request.  —  Imposing  Service.  —  Boats  destroyed.  —  Death  of 
Do  Soto. —  Ills  double  Burial.  —  Moscoso  his  Successor.  —  Arrival  in 
Mexico.  —  The  Route.  —  The  Time  occupied.  —  The  Termination.  — 
Diminished  Numbers.  —  The  Policy  and  Influence  of  the  Spaniards.— 
Blmidhounds.  —  Sunday  the  sailing  Day 130 


CHAPTER   XI 

Our  Plan.  —  Sir  Martin  Frobisher.  — Queen.  — Pinnacled  Coast  —  Dan 
gers.  —  Men  lost  —  Discouragements  resisted. — Beautiful    Sight  — 


CONTENTS. 


16 


Straits  discovered.  —  Mighty  Deer. —  Escape  from  fndians.— Vis- 
itors. —  Boat's  Creiv  captured.  —  Frotiislier  badly  off.  —  Decoy 
Bell.  —  Man  caiiglit.  —  Tongue  bitten.  —  Reports  of  Gold.  —  The 
black  Stone.  —  Second  Voyage.  —  Gold  seeking.  —  Conflicts.  —  Sus- 
picions of  a  cloven  Foot.  —  Woman  licks  Wounds.  —  Lameness 
feigned.  —  I'alking  to  a  Picture.  —  Vessels  loaded.  —  Meta  incogni- 
to.—  Third  Voyage.  —  Dogs.  —  Whales.  —  A  Whale  run  down. 
Fresh  Water  from  Icebergs.  —  The  Dennis  destroyed.  —  Sudden 
Changes.  —  Refining  the  Ore.  —  False  Stories.  —  The  Truth  dis- 
covered.    1 43 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Bir  Francis  Drake.  —  Visits  California. —  San  Francisco.  —  Singular 
Conduct  —  Imposing  Visit  —  Sup^xiscd  C^oronation.  —  Pmfessing  Al- 
legiance.  —  The  Califoniians. —  Drake  takes  Possession. —  Visits 
Florida.  —  St  Augustine.  —  A  French  Captive.  —  Spaniards  flee.  ^ 
Death  of  Powell.  —  The  Town  destroyed.  —  Drake  visits  Virginia. — 
Raleigh's  Colony.  —  New  Calamity. —  The  Colony  disheartened.—- 
Their  Interpretation  of  Providence.  —  They  are  taken  Home. —  Gov- 
ernor Lane.  —  Tobacco  introduced  into  England 163 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Captain  John  Davis.  —  Great  Roaring.  —  Its  Cause. —  Laiid  of  Desola- 
tion.—  Band  of  Music.  —  Its  Effect  —  Friendly  Alliance.  —  Beai 
Hunting.  —  Mistake  about  Dogs.  —  Davis's  Discoveries. —  Amuse- 
ments.—  Change  in  the  Natives.  —  Ringleader  taken. —  Interesting 
Phenomenon.  —  Game.  —  Secret  Attack.  —  Sun  shines  twenty-four 
Hours.  —  Fat  Dogs.  —  Stag  Hunt  —  The  Marquis  de  la  Roche. — 

Sable  Island  Sufferers Captain  George  Weymouth.  —  Fresh  Water 

from  Icebergs.  —  Effect  of  Ice  tipon  the  Vessel.  —  Sailors  appalled.  — 
They  mutiny — Weymouth  yields.  —  Ho  sails  South.  —  Finds  an 
Inlet  —  Nain.  —  Great  Storm.  —  Ilis'  Return.  —  Bartliolomow  Gos- 


r 

n 

b 


16 


CONTENTS. 


nold.  — Indians  with  a  European  Shallop.  — Cape  Cod  discovered.-— 
A  per{)etual  Name.  —  Elizabeth  Island.  — A  Colony.  — Its  End.-^Ita 
Ruins. 174 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Dutch  Enterprise.  —  Henry  Hudson.  —  Arrives  at  Sandy  Hook.  — 
Horseshoe  Harbor.  —  Soundings.  —  Coney  Island.  —  Productioni>.  — 
Visitors.  —  Indian  Alliance.  —  Mr.  Heckewelder.  —  Interesting  Tra- 
dition. —  The  long  House.  —  How  it  was  shortened.  —  The  Conduct 
of  the  Natives.  —  The  Crew  land.  —  What  they  saw.  —  Hudson  sus- 
picious. —  Unfortunate  Adventure.  —  A  gloomy  Night.  —  A  sad 
Spectacle.  —  The  Burial.  —  Coleman's  Point  —  Precautionary  Meas- 
ures.—More  Visitors.  —  Indian  Stratagem.  —  Indians  captured.— 
One  escapes.  —  Red  Coats. — Discovers  a  great  River.  —  Its  Names.  — 
Show  of  Love.  —  Want  of  Confidence 194 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Suspicious  Visitors.  —  Hudson's  Progress.  —  The  Highlands.  —  Thick 
Fog.  —  Effect  of  its  Disapfiearance.  —  The  two  Captives  again. — 
Catskill  Mountains.  —  Loving  People.  —  Cause  of  bad  Luck.  — 
Trade.  —  Hudson.  —  Shoals.  —  Adventures  of  the  Mate.  —  Proof  of 
Friendship.  —  Feeling  the  Way.  —  Hudson  intoxicates  the  Indians.  — 
Modest  Wife.  —  Drunken  Chief.  —  Effect  upon  the  People.  —  Wam- 
pum. —  The  Chief  recovers.  —  Thank  Offering. 205 


till!! 


!    Hi 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Effect  of  Ardent  Spirits.  —  Heckewelder.  —  Singular  Tradition.  — 
Great  Surprise.  —  Opinionsxonceniing  the  Arrival  of  the  first  Ship.^ 
Effect  upon  the  Indians.  —  Preparation  for  its  Reception.  —  Grand 
Dance.  —  Exciting  Reports  of  the  Runners.  —  Salutations  ex- 
changed. —  A  Man  tn  Red  —  How  he  is  received.  —  He  drinks,  and 


t 


CONTENTS. 


17 


oflkn  the  Glass  to  the  Indians.  —  Their  Conduct  —  One  of  them, 
after  a  Speech,  drinks.  —  Its  EfTect.  —  His  Assertions.  —  His  Exam- 
ple loUowed.  —  General  Intoxication.  —  Presents.  —  Their  ridiculous 
Use  of  them.  —  The  Whites  considered  Gwla.  —  Story  of  the  Bul- 
lock's Hide.  —  Indians  outwitted.  —  Locality  of  this  Scene.  —  DitFcr- 
ent  Names  of  Manhattan  Island 213 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Hudson's  highest  Point  —  He  descends.  —  Lands — Trees.  —  The  old 
Man  again.  —  Disappointed  Chief.  —  Fishing.  —  Newburgh.  —  Hard 
Metal.  —  A  Boat  Thief.  —  An  Affray.  —  Effect  of  a  Gun.  — •  The  two 
Captives  again.  —  An  Attack.  —  The  RepuL^e.  —  Attack  renewed. — 
Falcon.  —  Its  Execution.  —  Both  Parties  retreat  —  Appearance  of 
Ore.  —  Sail  along  Manhattan.  —  The  Half  Moon  at  Sea.  —  Magic 
Change.  —  Different  Rates  of  Travel.  —  The  Time  Hudson  occupied 
in  exploring  the  River.  —  Extent  of  the  Country.  —  Population.— 
English  Prohibition. — Crew  mutinies.  —  Hudson  returns 229 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Rum  and  Gunpowder.  —  Samuel  Champlain.  —  His  Discovery.  — 
French  and  Indian  Allies.  —  A  War  Party. — The  Five  Nations.— 
Champlain  passes  up  the  St.  Lawrence.  —  Lake  St  Peter.  —  Sorelle 
River.  —  Indian  Deception.  —  Dangerous  Rapids.  —  Vessel  sent 
back.  —  Vigilance.  —  Beautiful  Country.  —  Superstitious  Incanta- 
tions. —  Champlain's  pretended  Dream.  —  Its  happy  Effect  —  Pas- 
sage through  Lake  Champlain. — Transparent  Water. —  Unexpected 
Meeting.  —  Singular  Message.  —  Morning  Battle.  —  Novel  Expedi- 
ent—  Effect  of  Fire-arms.  —  Victorious  Rejoicings.  —  Indian  Prac- 
ti  te  after  a  Battle.  —  Tortures.  —  Champlain  returns  to  France 231 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

Rumors  of  a  great  River.  —  Opinions  concerning  it.  —  Reasons  for  visit- 
ing it  —  The  exploring  Party.  —  Wild  Rice  India..s.  —  Their  Ad- 

8* 


I' 

hi 


r 

'  ■  -^ 


18 


CONTENTS. 


!l!l|l| 


yiee.  —  Alarming  Stories.  —  Bait  Bay.  —  No  Salt  —  Dcautiful  Land- 
Bcape.  —  A  Cross  discovered.  —  Village  in  Commotion.  —  Tti« 
Portage.  —  Pleasant  Sail.  —  Iron  Mines.  — The  Mississippi  Mode  of 
Travailing.  —  Welcome  Paths.  —  Romantic  Cluster  of  Villages.  — 
Their  Judicious  Approach.  —  Friendly  Reception.  —  Courteous  Enter- 
tainment —  The  Calumet.  —  Council.  —  Feast.  —  Escort.  —  Meaning 
of  "  Illinois."  —  Departure.  —  Looking  out  for  a  River.  —  Discover 
huge  painted  Monsters. 941 


CHAPTER   XX. 


''•n 


ii 


m 

Mil 

'■■ill 

i 


m 


Marquette  discovers  the  Missouri.  —  Effect  of  its  Waters  upon  the  Mis- 
sissippi. —  Marquette's  Opinions.  —  The  Platte  and  Colorado.  —  The 
Ohio  passed.  —  Spirit's  Residence.  —  Ochres.  —  Reeds.  —  Interview 
with  Indians.  —  Possess  European  Articles.  —  Warlike  Movements 
allayed  by  the  Calumet.  —  Interpreter  discovered.  —  Arkansas  In> 
dians.  —  Escort  of  ten  Canoes.  —  Distance  of  the  Sea.  —  The  Party 
in  Danger.  —  The  Peril  escai)cd.  —  Reasons  for  returning.  —  Enter 
the  Illinois.  —  A  Chief  invites  Marquette  to  return.  —  Reach  Chica- 
go. —  Time  of  Absence.  —  Marquette  settles  as  a  Missionary.  —  His 
Presentiment.  —  His  rural  Worship.  —  His  Retirement.  —  His  singu- 
lar Decease. 253 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

La  Salle.  —  His  Opinions  about  China.  —  His  Desire  for  Adventure.  — 
His  Patents.  —  His  Company.  —  Builds  a  Vessel.  —  First  Voyage.  — 
Great  Storm.  —  A  Vow  to  St.  Anthony.  —  False  Rumors.  —  The 
Griffin  lost.  —  Noise  forbidden.  —  A  Bear  shot.  —  EflTect  of  the  Re- 
port. —  Robbery False  Friendship.  —  Case  of  Perplexity. — A  Bat- 
tle at  Hand.  —  Effect  of  a  Parley.  —  The  Difficulty  adjusted.  —  Want 
of  Food.  —  Arrival  of  De  Tonty.  —  La  Salle  lost.  —  Kills  Opos- 
sums.—  Finds  the  Company.  —  Disagreeable  Voyage.  —  The  wel- 
come Buffalo.  — Forsaken  Village.  —The  Reason.  —  La  Salle  seizM 


CONTENTS. 


19 


Corn.  —  Now  Year's  Day.  —  M.ih.4.  —  Hennepin  exhorts  the  Men. 
The  EducL  —  Lake  i'ouria.  —  Muiining  of  tlie  Name 


aci 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

A  Villapo.  —  Bold  ApproacJj.  —  La  Sallo's  Policy.  —  Three  Calumets. — 
Friendly  Undorstandin)^  —  Ccrciuonious  Hospitality.  —  La  Sallo'a 
Explanation.  —  Pay  for  Com.  — Sudden  Change.  —  ElTcct  of  Slan- 
der. —  More  terrible  Stories.  —  Deserters.  —  A  ProjKJsition.  —  Fort  of 
the  Broken  Heart.  —  Ship-building.  —  Bold  Resolution.  —  Troulilofl 
accumulato.  —  A  constant  Friend.  —  Change  of  Plan.  —  Tonty  with 
the  Illinois.  —  Alarming  Ucport.  —  Tonty'a  Danger. — Sudden  Re- 
treat. —  Father  do  la  Ribourdo  walks  in  tho  Wood.  —  Never  re- 
turns.—  His  Dcatli.  —  Painful  Travelling.  —  Sieur  de  Boisrondr*. 
lost  — Ills  Advcuturea.  —  Three  great  Captains 27(1 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

The  Party.  —  Women  and  Children  with  them.  —  Employments  of  th« 
Women.  —  Ice.  —  A  Man  lost  —  Unnecessary  Alarm.  —  Means  of 
Defence.  —  Friendly  Relations.  —  La  Sallo  takes  Possession.  —  In- 
dian King.  —  Native  Royalty.  —  Permanent  Dwellings.  —  A  Canoe 
ciiaaed.  —  Numerous  Natives.  —  Respect  for  tlie  Calumet  —  Natch- 
ez. —  Escort  —  Abandoned  Village —  Horrid  Spectacle.  —  Tliree 
Channels.  —  A  Party  explores  each.  —  Tho  Gulf  of  Mexico  reached.  — 
La  Salle  takes  Possession  of  Louisiana.  —  Evidence  of  Possession.  — 
Uo  returns.  —  Ascent  of  the  River  difficult 387 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

Fatlier  Hennepin.  —  A  Fleet  of  Canoes.  —  Hennepin  interrupts  it  —  Ii 
caiHurcd.  —  Crjing  Indians.  —  Prisoners  doomed  to  die.  —  Hennepin's 
Cuurae.-  Captivity  instead  of  Deatii.<— Strength  of  the  Nativea  — 


ii 

i! 


■^ 


20 


CONTENTS. 


Dancoof  the  Rood. —  Chief  Aquipaguetin.— Makes  a  Feaflt.  —  Sin- 
giilar  Conduct.  —  Indian  Cunning.  —  Lake  of  Tears.  —  Captives  in 
BuH|)cn8e.  —  Mode  of  kindling  a  Fire.  —  Falls  of  Su  Anthony.  — 
Separation  of  the  Captives.  —  Pace  quickened  hy  Fire.  —  The  Chalice 
a  Bup|)oaed  Spirit.  —  A  comic  Musician.  —  Hennepin  adopted.  —  Flia 
Treatment  —  Ridiculous  Scene.  —  Indian  Sweat.  —  Tlio  ConipaHs.  — 
The  Pot  and  Lion. —  Mode  of  learning  the  Language.  —  Putting 
Black  to  White.  —  Infant  Baptism.  —  Infant  dies.  —  Hennepin's  con- 
Foling  Reflecttons. 296 


CHAPTER    XXV, 


Pierced  Pine.  —  An  Offering  and  I'rayer  to  the  Falls.  —  The  Vow  ful- 
filled.—  Picard  forgets  his  Powder. —  A  great  Seriwnf. —  Disturbance 
in  Camp.—  'I'ho  Law  of  Hunting.  —  Hennopin  goes  to  the  Wiscon- 
sin. —  His  Disappointtnent.  —  Is  reduced  to  great  Straits.  —  Indian 
and  Thorn.  —  Effect  of  Excitement.  —  Groat  Alarm.  —  A  Drove  of 
Stags.  —  Fire  Spirits.  —  Sieur  du  Ijtith.  —  His  Eipiipagc.  —  Henne- 
pin's pretended  Relationship.  —  Digs  up  his  Properly. —  His  Discov- 
eries.—  The  Party  leave  the  Indians.  —  They  fire  a  parting  Salute.— 
Its  Effect  —  They  steal  a  votive  Offering.  —  Arrive  at  Mackinaw.  — 
Hennepin's  Description  of  Niagara  Falls.  —  Columbus  and  the 
Birds.— Small  Vessels.  —  Watchful  Providence 3tt 


f 


CHAPTER    I. 


America  unknown.  —  Colnmhus.  —  Ilia  DifTicullics.  —  Disroi  « 
Cat  Island.  —  Erroneous  Conjecture.  —  Columbus's  Scc(>.,ti 
Voyage.  —  Tliird  Voyage.  —  Pisrovcrs  the  Main  Land. — John 
Cabot's  Patent,  —  lie  discovers  Labrador.  —  The  Natives.— 
Productions.  —  He  kidnaps  Indians.  —  Sebastian  Cabot.  — 
Discovers  a  great  River.  —  Extent  of  his  Coasting.  —  Caspar 
Cortereal.  —  Old  Way  to  India.  —  Now  Way  desired.  —  Corte* 
real's  Objec  — Reaches  the  Coast.  —  His  Observations.— 
Turns  Kidnapper.  —  Enthusiasm  on  his  Return  Home.  —  His 
Second  Voyage. —  Discovers  Greenland.  —  His  End.  —  Miguel 
Cortereal.  -^  His  Voyage.  —  Results.  —  Spanish  Conquests.  — 
Ponce  de  Leon.  —  Socks  for  Golil.  —  Imprudent  Chief.  —  Ponce's 
Promotion.  —  EtVcct  of  Imagination.  —  Welcome  News.  — 
Ponce  enthusiastic  — Chimerical  Voyage.  —  Mysterious  Foun- 
tain.—  Accidental  Discoveries.  —  One  by  Ponce.  —  Origin  of 
"Florida."  —  Spanish  Assumptions.  —  Ponce  a  Governor. — 
Loses  Reputation.  —  Attempts  a  Landing.  —  His  Reception  by 
the  Indians.  —  Defeat  and  Death. 

Previous  to  tlie  voyages  of  Christopher  Colum- 
bus, the  existence  of  the  immense  continent  of 
America  was  unknown  to  the  nations  of  the  eastern 
hemisphere.  Here  was  a  territory  of  maiiy  thou- 
sands of  miles  in  extent,  containing  the  largest  riv- 
ers, lakes,  and  mountains  in  the  world,  with  numer- 
ous towns  and  villages,  some  of  whose  inhabitants, 
especially  in  the  southern  part  of  the  continent,  had 
made    considerable    progress'  towards    civilization ; 


?! 

f 


v% 


22 


DISCOVERY    OF    AMERICA. 


and  yet  a  knovvled<^e  of  those  facts  was  concealed 
from  all  the  rest  of  the  world.  The  ocean,  which, 
hy  the  art  of  navigation,  is  now  converted  into  a 
hif^hway  of  communication  hetween  the  two  conti- 
nents, was  then  an  impassahle  barrier.  It  is  no  etisy 
task,  at  the  present  time,  to  conceive  the  difficulties 
which  must  have  beset  th.ise  who  were  the  pioneers 
in  the  discovery  of  the  different  parti  of  this  western 
world. 

Columbus,  a  native  of  Genoa,  in  Italy,  from  the 
time  he  first  projected  a  voyage  for  the  purpose  of 
discovering  either  a  new  continent,  or  a  western  pas 
sage   to  the  East  Indies,  until  he  landed  upon  the 
new  world,  was  surrounded  by  embarrassments  suffi- 
ciently numerous    and    great    to    have    totally  dis- 
couraged any  other  than  a  man  of  indomitable  per 
severance.     But  he  was  not  doomed  to  a  disappoint 
ment.     His  unfaltering  hope,  his  ceaseless  industry 
his  patient  self-denial,  and  his  inflexibility  of  pur- 
pose, were  all  rewarded  when,  at  midnight,  on  the 
12th  of  October,  old  style,  1492,  the  cheering  cry  of 
*«  Land  !  land  !  "  was  heard  from  on  board  his  vessel, 
which,  for  two  months,  had  been  tossed  about  upon 
the  restless  billows  of  an  apparently  shoreless  ocean. 
The  land  proved  to  be  Cat  Island,  sometimes  called 
San  Salvador,  one  of  the  Bahamas. 

As  Columbus  had  sailed   under  the  auspices  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  of  Spain«  he  took  posses- 


H 


JOHN    CABOT. 


23 


sion  of  the  newly-discovered  country  in  their  name. 
After  visiting  various  other  islands,  he  returned  to 
communicate  the  results  of  his  voyage.  The  im- 
jM^rtant  intelligence  was  soon  diffused,  and  every 
where  elicited  the  spirit  of  inquiry  and  adventure. 
It  was  generally  supposed  that  the  lands  which  he 
had  discovered  were  the  western  extremity  of  India. 
For  this  reason  they  were  generally  spoken  of  as 
the  Indies.  After  this  opinion  was  known  to  be  er- 
roneous, they  were  still  designated  the  West  Indies, 
which  name  they  have  always  retained. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1493,  Columbus  set 
sail  from  Cadiz  on  his  second  voyage,  and  on  the 
2d  of  November  he  discovered  one  of  the  Caribbee 
Islands,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Dominico. 
After  cruising  several  weeks  among  these  islands, 
and  establishing  a  colony,  he  returned  without  see- 
ing the  main  land.  This  was  reserved  for  his  third 
voyage,  when  he  had  the  honor  to  land  on  the  coast 
of  Paria,  in  South  America.  Columbus  made  one 
voyage  more,  but  without  effecting  any  addition- 
al important  discoveries.  He  never  saw  North 
America ! 

Previous  to  his  third  voyage,  Henry  VII.,  King 
of  England,  was  aroused  to  the  importance  of  en- 
gaging in  maritime  adventure.  He  gave  to  John 
Cabot,  a  Venetian  merchant,  whose  residence  was  in 
Bristol,  a  patent,  authorizing  ^lim  and  his  three  sonsi 


i\ 
I 

0 


24 


cabot's  discovkry. 


or  either  of  them,  their  heirs,  or  tlieir  deputies,  to 
explore  the  eastern,  western,  or  nortliern  sea,  at 
their  own  expense.  Tiiey  were  to  raise  tlie  royal 
hanners  of  England  over  any  castles,  towns,  cities, 
islands,  or  continents  which  they  might  discover,  and 
rule  over  them  as  governors,  subject  to  the  crown 
of  England.  They  also  had  guarantied  to  them 
the  monopoly  of  the  trade  of  the  countries  which 
they  should  discover,  on  condition  that  all  their  pro- 
ductions should  be  brought  into  the  port  of  Bristol, 
where  they  were  to  be  received  free  of  duties,  and 
also,  that,  when  sold,  one  fifth  of  their  net  profits 
should  be  paid  into  the  royal  treasury. 

Under  this  patent,  Cabot  set  sail  from  England  in 
May,  1497,  in  a  vessel  called  the  Matthew,  and  on 
June  24th,  came  in  sight  of  land  near  the  fifty-sixth 
degree  of  north  latitude  —  probably  the  coast  of 
Labrador,  which  afterwards  was  sometimes  called 
Newfoundland.  Thus  the  North  American  conti- 
nent was  discovered  by  a  private  commercial  com 
pany,  under  the  protection  of  the  King  of  England, 
more  than  a  year  before  the  main  land  of  South 
America  was  seen  by  Columbus.  This  original  dis- 
covery established  the  right  of  England,  above  other 
European  nations,  to  take  possession  of  the  newly- 
discovered  lands  on  the  North  American  continent. 
But  justice  demanded  that  previous  to  their  occupancy 
by  colonies,  they  should  be  purchase<l  of  the  natives 


KIDNAPPING    OF    INDIANS. 


or 


for  a  fair  equivalent.  These  natives  were  rude 
Indians.  In  an  old  document,  wliicli  is  said  to  be 
an  extract  taken  out  of  the  map  of  Sebastian  Cabot, 
cut  by  Clement  Adams,  tbev  are  said  to  "  N\(;ar 
beasts'  skins,  and  have  them  in  as  great  estimation 
as  we  have  our  finest  garments.  In  their  vvarrcs, 
ihey  use  bowes,  arrowes,  pikes,  darts,  wooden  chd)s, 
and  slings.  The  soil  is  barren  in  some  places,  and 
yeeldeth  little  fruit,  but  it  is  full  of  white  bears  and 
stagges  far  greater  than  ours.  It  yeeldeth  plerity 
of  fish,  and  those  very  great  as  scales,  and  those 
which  we  commonly  call  salmons  ;  there  are  soles, 
also,  above  a  yard  in  length,  but  esj)C('ially  there  is 
great  abundance  of  that  kind  of  fish  which  the  sav- 
ages call  baccalaos."  Hawks  were  seen  as  black  as 
ravens,  and  partridges  and  eagles  of  a  similar  color. 
The  fish  called  baccalaos  were  the  cod,  whose  fish- 
ery at  the  present  time  furnishes  em})loyment  to  a 
large  number  of  men. 

Cabot  induced  some  of  the  natives  to  come  on 
board  his  vessel,  three  of  whom  he  took  to  England. 
At  first,  they  wore  their  own  costume,  and  are  said 
to  have  eaten  raw  flesh.  They  afterwards  adopted 
English  garments,  and  in  the  course  of  two  years 
were  so  far  AngUcized  in  appearance  that  they 
ceased  to  attract  special  attention. 

After  the  decease  of  .Tohn  Cabot,  Sebastian,  \m 
son,  went  to  Spain.  By  the  Spanish  king  he  was 
3 


p  ■ 


h 
^» 

H 

t'  f- 


1 1 


26 


ROUTES    TO    INDIA. 


sent  to  the  coast  of  Brazil,  where  he  had  the  honor 
of  discovering  the  magnificent  Rio  de  h\  Plata,  or 
River  of  Plate.  He  subsequently  returned  to  Eng- 
land, obtained  Jtnother  patent,  and  revisited  Labra- 
dor, with  a  company  of  three  hundred  persons.  lie 
coasted  as  far  south  as  Maryland,  and  as  far  north 
as  the  sixty-second  degree  of  latitude,  entering  the 
straits  and  bay  whicl  have  since  been  named  after 
Hudson.  He  is  said  by  some  historians  to  have 
made  a  third  voyage  to  America;  but  as  no  im- 
portant particulars  are  given  of  his  voyages  to  this 
country,  except  his  discovery  of  the  continent,  wo 
shall  here  part  company  with  him. 

The  next  adventurer  who  claims  our  attention  is 
Caspar  Cortereal,  a  Portuguese,  who,  in  the  year 
1500,  visited  Newfoundland. 

The  usual  course  to  the  rich,  spice-producing 
countries  of  the  East  Indies,  at  that  period,  was  by  a 
tedious,  dangerous,  and  expensive  voyage  round  tiie 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  through  the  Indian  Ocean> 
It  was  a  great  desideratum  to  find  some  other  pas- 
sage which  would  be  less  tedious  and  costly.  It  had 
been  by  some  conjectured  that  possibly  a  new  route 
might  be  found  by  sailing  in  an  opposite  direction 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  to  the  north-west. 
If  the  earth  was  round,  why  could  they  not  reach 
the  Indies  by  sailing  to  the  north-west  as  well  as  the 
south-east  1      One   object   of  Caspar  Cortereal  was. 


to  disc 
Spice 
he  dir 
and  ro 
rador, 
tions 
coverec 
adapte( 
were  fi 
hardy, 
of   the 
caves, 
tlieni   o 
afterwa 
as  the 
que nee 


APPEARANCE    OF    LABRADOR. 


27 


to  discover  tliis  nortli-west  passage  to  Cliirm  and  the 
Spice  Islands.  Having  arrived  at  Newfoiindlaiid, 
lie  directed  liis  course  northward  along  the  bleak 
and  rocky  coast,  to  which  he  gave  the  njinie  of  Lab- 
rador, which  it  still  etains.  He  observed  that  por- 
tions of  the  country  along  which  he  sailed  wore 
covered  i^ith  forests,  the  timber  of  which  was  well 
adapted  for  masts  and  spars  of  ships.  The  waters 
were  full  of  fish.  The  inhabitants  were  robust  and 
hardy,  though  poor.  They  were  skilful  in  the  use 
of  the  bow,  were  clothed  in  skins,  and  lived  in 
caves.  Cortereal  managed  to  get  fifty  or  more  of 
them  on  board  his  vessel,  whom  he  kidnapped,  and 
afterwards  sold  as  slaves !  He  sailed  as  far  north 
as  the  fiftieth  degree  of  latitude,  when,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  severity  of  the  cold,  and  the  dangers 
arising  from  the  icebergs  which  were  floating  around 
him,  he  concluded  ti  postpone  further  operations 
till  next  year.  He  returned,  and  gave  such  a  favor- 
able account  of  his  voyage,  and  expressed  such  san- 
guine hopes  of  discovering  the  long-Iookcd-for  north- 
west passage,  that  the  court  caught  his  enthusiasm, 
and  authorized  him  to  make  another  voyage,  with 
twc  vessels  under  his  command.  He  did  so.  The 
voyage  proceeded  favorably  till  they  reached  a  coast 
to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Terra  Vfi'dc, 
(Greenland;)  not  the  country  which  is  now  called 
(ireenland,  but  some  part  of  the  coast  which   they 


t 

t  > 

Si 


4 
V 


i 


28 


THE    C0UTKUHAL9. 


illll 


had  visited  before,  but  wliicli  j)r()bul)ly  appeared  to 
tiiem  more  verdant  than  on  their  former  voyagfe. 
Here  a  violent  storm  arose,  which  separated  the  two 
vessels.  The  one  which  contained  Cortereal  was 
never  seen  ajjain.  It  is  said  by  some  that  he  was 
slain  in  a  conflict  with  the  natives,  whom  he  was  en- 
deavoring to  kidnap.  If  so,  he  received  no  more 
than  was  his  due.  The  practice  of  the  early  voy- 
agers to  this  country  of  kidnap|)ing  the  free  sons 
of  the  forest,  and  reducing  them  to  slavery  in  a 
foreign  land,  cannot  be  too  strongly  denounced. 

Gaspar  Cortereal  had  a  younger  brother,  whose; 
name  was  Miguel.  Being  deeply  aillicted  at  the  long 
absence  of  his  brother,  he  went,  with  the  permission 
of  th*!  king,  in  search  of  him.  He  had  three  ves- 
sels. When  they  arrived  near  the  coast  of  North 
America,  they  each  took  a  separate  course,  with 
orders  to  me;  at  a  designated  place  of  rendezvous 
by  the  20th  of  August.  Two  of  them  kept  the 
appointment,  but  Miguel  did  not.  He  was  never 
heard  from  after  parting  with  his  companions.  A 
third  brother  still  remained,  who  would  have  gone 
in  pursuit  of  the  other  two  if  he  had  not  received  a 
prohibition  from  the  king.  Since  these  unfortunate 
voyages,  the  Portuguese  have  made  no  attempt  to 
form  a  settlement  on  any  part  of  the  coast,  though 
they  were  among  the  first  who  engaged  in  the 
Newfoundland  fishery,  and  carried  it  on  upon  au 
extensive  scale. 


A    GOLD    SEEKER. 


'^ 


After  this,  the  attention  of  adventurers  was 
drawn  to  tlie  southerly  part  of  the  coast.  The 
Sj)aniards  had  ah'eady  coninicnced  tlieir  successful 
career  of  conquest  in  the  gold-producing  countries 
of  South  America.  This  not  only  whetted  the  aj)- 
petite  of  the  nation  for  similar  conquests  elsewhere, 
but  also  trained  up  a  band  of  hardy,  adventurous 
soldiery,  to  whom  nothing  was  more  attractive  than 
a  field  for  new  discoveries,  where,  with  their  Toledo 
blades  and  noble  steeds,  they  might  carve  out  a  for- 
tune for  themselves.  Among  these  was  Juan  Ponce 
de  Leon,  a  renowned  cavalier,  who  had  served  with 
much  distinction  under  Columbus.  Ilavinjj  been 
informed  by  the  natives  of  one  of  the  West  India 
Islands  that  Porto  Rico,  an  island  lying  east  of 
Ilayti,  abounded  in  gold,  he  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  to  make  it  a  >isit.  After  successfully 
effecting  a  landing,  and  being  well  received  by  its 
inhabitants,  he  made  inquiries  for  the  precious  metal. 
The  cacique,  or  chief,  led  him  all  over  the  island, 
and  pointed  out  to  him  the  different  localities  where 
the  treasure  could  be  found.  After  subjugating  the 
natives,  Ponce  de  Leon  established  a  colony,  and,  as 
a  reward  for  his  discovery  and  services,  was  appoint- 
ed  governor  of  the  island.  Although  he  obtained 
some  gold,  his  expectations  of  great  wealth  were 
not  destined  here  to  be  realized.  He  found  it  diffi- 
cult to  compel  the  natives  to  work  us  slaves.  Insur* 
3* 


p 
f 

»  • 

!l 
l\ 


ao 


A    ROMANTIC    ENTERPRISE. 


rections  broke  out  among  tliein,  and  many  Spaniards 
were  slain. 

Individuals  who  possess  a  vivid  imagination  and  a 
spirit  of  romantic  adventure  can  be  easily  excited 
by  the  most  visionary  projects.  Sometimes,  the 
more  unreal  and  improbable  these  objects  are,  the 
higher  will  be  the  entiiusiasm  they  awaken.  So  in- 
fatuated do  their  votaries  become,  that  repeated  dis- 
appointments fail  of  effecting  a  cure.  No  sooner  had 
the  golden  bubble  of  Porto  Rico  burst  before  the 
enraptured  eye  of  Ponce  de  Leon,  than  he  became 
almost  wild  with  excitement  at  the  extremely  grati- 
fying intelligence,  that  on  one  of  the  Bahama 
Ishmds  was  a  remarkable  fountain,  which  possessed 
the  marvellous  property  of  renewing  the  youth  of 
all  those  who  bathed  in  its  magic  waters.  However 
aged,  wrinkled,  and  infirm  they  might  be,  let  them 
but  plunge  into  this  mysterious  laver  of  nature,  and 
by  its  wonderful  influence  they  would  be  restored  to 
all  the  vigor  and  beauty  of  youth.  To  discover 
this  fountain,  and  enjoy  the  benefit  of  its  renovating 
power,  was  henceforth  the  great  object  of  Ponce  de 
liCon's  pursuit.  He  embarked  on  this  chimerical 
voyage  with  three  vessels,  and  spent  many  months 
in  sailing  altmg  the  coasts,  and  winding,  ofttimes  in 
great  peril,  among  the  rocks  and  shoals  of  the  Ba- 
hamas. He  made  freipient  landings,  and  Gvary 
stream,    lake,    or    pool,    whether   clear   or    mud  ly, 


wliL'fh 
L'lirpot 
with    1 
But   II 
gray 
wrinki 
that    tl 
the  ela 
(lirectlj 
that,  ii 
second 
same   i 
before 
this   vo 
alchemi 
j»her's 
touched 
tent  virt 
a!)Ie  to 
bled  upc 
though 


Bi 


mmi, 


heatinir 
his  searc 
away  to 
seen.     A 
with  imn 
sion  of  t 


PONCr,  S    FOM.T. 


ai 


f:    \ 


wliL'tlier  liavinjr  a  surface  like  a  polislicd  mirror,  or 
carpeted  with   a   rich   green  scum,  he    phin<!;e(l  into, 


with    the    h 


ope 


oi 


nsiuir   a    renov 


ated. 


i/onn 


IT   inaii. 


lint  instead  of  findin(^,  by  these  ahlutions,  tlwit  his 
pray  hairs  resumed  tlieir  former  color,  that  his 
wrinkles  were  reduced  in  number  or  in  depth,  and 
that  the  infirmities  of  years  were  giving  phice  to 
the  elasticity  of  his  earlier  days,  his  experience  was 
directly  the  opposite.  Indeed,  it  is  said  of  him, 
that,  instead  of  a  second  youth,  he  arrived  at  a 
second  childhood,  and  never  developed  cither  the 
same  intellectual  or  bodily  vigor  after,  as  he  did 
before  he  entered  upon  this  delusive  search.  Still, 
this  voyage  was  not  altogether  useless.  As  the 
alchemists,  in  their  efforts  to  find  out  the  pliiloso- 
pher's  stone,  which  would  convert  whatever  it 
touched  into  gold,  and  the  elixir  of  life,  whose  po- 
tent virtues  would  render  all  who  drank  it  invulner- 
a!)le  to  death,  actually,  though  undesignedly,  stum- 
bled upon  important  discoveries,  so  Ponce  de  Leon, 
though  he  failed  to  find  the  fabled  fountain  of 
Bimini,  reached  another  valuable  result.  Whilst 
heating  about  among  the  islands  for  the  object  of 
his  search,  he  came  in  sight  of  land,  which  stretched 
Qway  to  a  greater  distance  than  any  he  had  hitherto 
seen.  As  he  approached  it,  he  found  it  covered 
with  immense  forests,  gayly  decorated  with  a  profu- 
sion of  the  most  showy  flowers,  on  which  acccunt, 


n 


r 


S3 


PONCr/S    DISCOVERY. 


or  because  tlie  clay  of  this  discovery  was  March 
27tli,  (Easter  Sunday,)  called  by  the  Spaniards 
Pascua  Florida,  or  Flowery  Piaster,  he  named  this 
new  territory  Florida.  He  found  great  difficulty  in 
cOfisting  along  its  shores,  in  consecjuence  of  the 
strong  currents  produced  by  the  Gulf  Stream,  and 
also  on  account  of  the  dangerous  coral  reefs  which 
stretched  away  at  different  points,  many  parts  of 
which  were  the  more  perilous  by  being  concealed 
beneath  the  surface  of  the  ocean.  For  a  number 
of  years,  it  was  su[)posed  that  Florida  was  an 
island.  But  when  the  Spaniards  were  convinced 
that  it  was  a  part  of  the  main  land,  they  based  upon 
this  discovery  of  Ponce  de  Leon  their  claim  to  the 
whole  North  American  continent.  For  a  long  time, 
the  name  Florida  was  given  not  merely  to  the 
southern  peninsula,  but  to  a  vast  territory  whose 
limits  to  the  north  and  west  were  unknown.  Ponce 
returned  to  Spain,  where  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  governor  and  commander-in-chief  of  Flor- 
ida. Before  he  could  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his 
new  office,  he  was  obliged  to  take  the  field  in  order 
to  supi)ress  an  insurrection  of  the  Caribbee  Indians 
in  Porto  Rico.  In  this  campaign  he  was  unfortu- 
nate, and  lost  much  of  his  former  military  reputa- 
tion. He  therefore  gladly  availed  himself  of  an 
oj)portunity  to  regain,  in  another  field,  what  he  had 
lost   here.     His  appointment  to  the  government  of 


AN    ATTACK    AMD    DEFEAT. 


33 


Florida  was  nccoiiipaiiied  with  the  condition  tliat  lie 
phouKl  coloni/o  it.  After  his  disasters  in  Porto 
Rico,  lie  fitted  out  two  vessels,  and  departed  to 
Florida  with  his  colony.  In  his  attetnj)t  to  land,  he 
was  met  by  bands  of  incensed  Indians.  They  were 
determined  to  prevent  the  invaders  from  establishinj^ 
themselves  upon  tlieir  soil.  They  attacked  them 
with  great  fury.  The  Spaniards  were  defeated,  and 
were  driven  precipitately  to  their  boats,  leaving  be- 
hind them  many  slain.  The  governor  himself 
received  a  wound  which  entirely  disqualified  him 
for  the  further  prosecution  of  the  enterprise.  He 
reluctantly  abandoned  the  object,  and  returned  to 
Cuba  to  die. 


r 


{ 


I 


U 
'A 

H 


y^\ 


u 


CHAPTER    II. 

TiafTTic  in  human  Being's.  —  John  fie  Vcrazznno.  —  ("'oasts  Nortk 
America. —  A  narrow  Escape. —  Fears  and  Friends.  —  Two 
Squaws  discovered.  —  A  Child  stolen.  —  Verazzano's  Discov- 
eries.—  Enters  Newport.  —  Hlock  Island.  —  Suspicious  I' 
dians.  —  Fears  overcome.  —  Two  Kings. —  Their  Attire.— 
Effects  of  Prejudice  against  Yellow.  —  Mirrors  rejected. —  A 
novel  Mode  of  Bartering.  —  Contemptuous  Conduct.  —  Veraz- 
zano  returns. — First  Description  of  North  America.  —  Claims 
of  France.  —  Verazzano's  Death. 


roiiagt 


After  the  disastrous  termination  of  Ponce  de 
Leon's  expedition,  several  other  voyages  were  made 
by  Spaniards  to  Florida,  and  along  the  northern 
boundaries  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  object  of 
some  of  these  visits  was  to  kidnaj)  Indians  and  re- 
duce them  to  slavery  in  the  West  Indies.  Human 
beings  had  already  begun  to  be  a  very  marketable 
commodity.  It  is  a  humiliating  fact  that  the  first 
trade  established  on  our  coast  was  a  traffic  in  men. 
If  they  could  not  be  bought,  they  were  stolen  and 
borne  away  to  foreign  iiiarkets. 

Before  the  Spaniards  had  succeeded  in  establish- 
ing a  colony  upon  tJio  southern  part  of  our  conti- 
nent, the  French  had  become  engaged  in  maritime 
adventures  along  the  coast. 

John  de  Verazzano,  of  Florence,  under  the  pat- 


JOHN    DK    VKUAZZAWO. 


35 


ronngo  of  Francis  I.,  King  ot"  France,  set  sail  from 
a  rocky  island,  near  Madeira,  .lanuary  ITth,  15vI4, 
on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  He  took  with  liini  fifty 
men,  provisions  for  ciglu  nioiitlis,  arms,  mnnitions 
of  war,  and  articles  with  which  to  tratfic  with  the 
natives.  On  the  24th  of  Fehruary,  they  encoun- 
tered a  severe  gale,  hut  without  receiving  any  ma- 
terial damage.  In  ahout  fifty  days  frcmi  the  time 
they  started,  hnving  sailed  west,  they  came  within 
sight  of  the  continent,  which  Verazzano  says  was  a 
new  country,  wiiich  had  never  hefore  heeii  seen 
hy  any  one  either  in  ancient  or  modern  times.  Fol- 
lowing the  southerly  direction  of  the  coast,  he  sailed 
fifty  leagues  without  finding  a  harbor.  lie  then 
changed  his  course  towards  the  north.  Scmie  por- 
tions of  the  coast  were  low  and  sandy ;  others  were 
covered  with  forests  of  palm,  laurel,  cypress,  and 
other  species  of  trees,  which  rendered  the  air  fra- 
grant to  a  great  distance.  The  arrival  of  this  mys- 
terious stranger  attracted  the  attention  of  the  na- 
tives, who  flocked  to  the  shores,  and  expressed  by 
cries  and  gestures  their  astonishment  and  delight. 
Numerous  fires  were  seen  burning  on  land.  Veraz- 
zano anchored  on  the  coast,  and  sent  the  boat,  with 
twenty-five  men,  to  open  a  trade  with  th.e  natives, 
and  ascertain  their  disposition.  As  tlie  surf  was 
falling  strongly  to  the  shore,  the  men  found  it  im- 
possible to  land  with  safet}       A  courageous  young 


i 
f 
i 

r 

(i 

'A 


^  » 

^0 


36 


A    PERILOUS    ADVENTURE. 


Hai'or,  who  \va^  a  good  swimmer,  seized  some  little 
bells,  lookiiij^-glasses,  and  other  cheap  articles,  and 
leaped  into  the  water  for  the  purpose  of  swimming 
ashore.  The  natives  watched  him  with  deep  inter- 
est. When  he  came  near,  he  threw  to  them  the 
articles  which  he  had  brought  as  a  gift  of  friend- 
ship, and  then  attempted  to  regain  the  boat ;  but 
the  waves  rolled  in  so  powerfully  as  to  dash  him 
upon  the  sand  with  such  force  that  he  fainted  and 
lay  as  if  dead.  The  Indians,  seeing  his  condition, 
ran  to  him,  seized  him  by  the  head,  legs,  and  arms, 
and  carried  him  off  from  the  water.  When  the 
young  man  opened  his  eyes  and  found  himself  in 
the  hands  of  these  savages,  who  were  believed  to  be 
cannibals,  he  shrieked  loudly  for  help.  lie  sup- 
posed that  his  doom  was  sealed,  and  that  he  would 
soon  be  roasting  over  one  of  their  fires,  which  were 
burning  near.  They  endeavored  to  pacify  him,  as 
well  as  they  were  able,  by  the  assurance  that  no 
harm  was  intended.  They  took  him  to  the  foot  of 
a  small  hill,  and  then  removing  from  him  his  wet 
clothes,  expressed  the  greatest  admiration  at  the 
whiteness  of  his  skin.  His  compimions  in  the  boat, 
seeing  him  naked,  near  a  fire,  concluded  that  the 
natives  were  about  to  make  a  meal  of  him.  Yet 
they  saw  no  way  to  effect  his  deliverance.  When 
the  half-drowned  Frenchman  had  recovered  his 
strength,  he  exldbited,  by  signs,  his  desire  to  returu 


rwo  squAVVs  found. 


37 


to  tlie  boat.  The  suspectod  cannibals,  instead  of 
objectinj^,  embraced  liini  with  niu<;li  aj)])arent  atVec- 
lioii,  and  then  accompanied  liim  to  the  sliore.  In 
order  to  convince  him  of  their  entire  friendliness, 
they  withdrew  at  a  considerable  distance  from  him, 
leavin}^  him  to  enter  the  water  without  fear  of 
molestation.  Takin<^  their  position  nj)oii  a  little 
elevation  of  land,  they  watched  him  till  he  regained 
his  waiting  companions,  who  received  him  almost  as 
one  risen  from  the  dead. 

After  sailing  about  fifty  leagues  farther  north, 
Verazzano  says  he  came  to  "  another  land,  which 
aj)peared  very  beautiful  and  full  of  the  largest  for- 
ests." The  boat  was  again  sent  on  shore  with 
twenty  men.  They  penetrated  into  the  country 
about  six  miles.  The  people  fled  from  them  in 
fear.  By  a  careful  search,  they  discovered,  con- 
cealed in  the  high  grass,  an  old  woman,  heavily 
laden.  She  bore  upon  her  shoulders  two  infants, 
and  behind  her  neck  a  little  boy  eight  years  old. 
Tn  her  company  was  a  young  squaw  about  eighteen 
years  of  age.  When  the  Frenchmen  approachi.'' 
tiiem,  they  shrieked  aloud,  and  made  significant 
gestures  to  the  men  who  imd  retreated  to  the  woods. 
To  allay  their  fears,  the  vir^itors  offered  them  pro- 
visions, which  the  old  woman  gratei'uUy  received, 
but  the  younger  one  spurned  it  from  her.  Every 
thing  which  they  offered  this  young  and  beautiful 
4 


F 
*  < 

(1 

'A 

b 


38 


A    CTIILD    STOLEN. 


damsel  of  the  forest  she  dis(hiiiifuily  threw  upon  the 
ground.  She  was  too  hi;:jrh  spirited  tc  aHow  lierself 
to  be  placed  under  any  ohhi^ations  to  these  pale-faced 
stran^rers.  Tiiey  ou^ht  to  have  treated  these  two 
unprotected,  helpless  females  witli  kindness,  anil 
tlien  suffered  them  to  depart.  But  instead  of  this, 
these  chivalrous  Frenchmen  cruelly  stole  from  the  old 
woman  the  boy  that  was  under  her  care,  and  then 
tried  to  carry  off  the  girl.  But  she  screamed  so 
loud,  and  resisted  so  violently,  that  they  saw  it 
would  be  impossible  to  get  her  through  the  woods 
to  the  boat.  They  had  to  content  themselves  with 
the  little  child,  whom  they  carried  off,  with  the  in- 
tention of  taking  to  France. 

Verazzano  contiimed  to  follow  the  coast  in  a 
northerly  direction.  Being,  of  course,  entirely  ig- 
norant of  the  cliaracter  of  the  coast,  or  the  locality 
of  danger,  as  a  prudential  arrangement  he  sailed 
only  by  day,  anchoring,  as  best  he  could,  at  night. 
It  is  said  by  several  authors  that  Verazzano  discov- 
ered Hudson  River  prior  to  Hudson  himself.  This 
opinion  is  based  upon  a  passage  in  Verazzano's  let- 
ter to  Francis,  the  Frencli  king.  That  our  readers 
may  have  the  means  of  judging  for  themselves,  we 
will  quote  this  important  statement  from  Verazzano's 
letter,  as  given  in  the  New  York  Historical  Collec- 
tion, New  Series,  vol.  i. 

"  After  proceeding  one  hundred  leagues,  we  found 


VERAZZANO'S    LETTER. 


39 


a  very  pleasant  situation  amonj^  some  steep  hills, 
tiirouglj  which  a  very  iarf^e  river,  deep  at  its  nKMith, 
forced  its  way  to  the  sea.  From  the  sea  to  the 
estuary  of  the  river  any  ship  heavily  laden  miidit 
pass,  with  the  help  of  the  tide,  which  rises  eijiht 
feet.  But  as  we  were  riding  at  anchor  in  a  good 
hcrth,  we  would  not  venture  up  in  our  vessel  with- 
out a  knowledge  of  the  mouth ;  therefore  we  took 
the  boat,  and  entering  the  river,  we  found  the  coun- 
try on  its  banks  well  peopled,  the  inhabitants  not 
differing  nuich  from  the  others,  being  dressed  out 
Willi  the  feathers  of  birds  of  various  colors.  They 
came  towards  us  with  evident  delight,  raising  loud 
siiouts  of  admiration,  and  showing  us  where  we 
could  most  securely  land  with  our  boat.  We  passed 
up  this  river  about  half  a  league,  when  we  found 
it  formed  a  most  beautiful  lake,  three  leagues  in  cir- 
cuit, upon  which  there  were  rowing  thirty  or  more 
of  their  small  boats,  fron*  one  shore  to  the  other, 
filled  with  multitudes  who  came  to  see  us. 
The  hi! is  showed  nniny  indications  of  minerals. 
VVeigrii  *(  f^.nchor,  we  sailed  fifty  leagues  towards 
the  east,  nt^  ''?e  ':*oast  stretched  in  that  direction,  and 
always  in  sight  of  it;  at  length,  we  discovered  an 
isiland  of  triangular  form,  about  ten  leauues  from 
the  mahi  land,  in  size  about  equal  to  the  island  of 
Rhodes,  having  many  hills  covered  with  trees,  an<l 
well     eopled,  judging  i\'ov^  the  great  number  of  lires 


i 

i\ 
t 

n 

^<% 

(I 

f 


>'i 


I 


40         WHO    DISCOVKUED    THE    HUDSON    UIVER  1 


which  we  saw  all  around  its  shores.  .  .  .  We 
(lid  not  land  there,  as  the  wcatiier  was  unfavorahle, 
but  j)roceeded  to  another  j)lace  liiteen  lea<>ues  dis- 
tant IVom  the  island,  where  we  found  an  excellent 
liarhor.  .  .  .  This  region  is  situated  in  the  par- 
allel of  Rome,  being  41°  40'  of  north  latitude,  hut 
much  colder  from  accidental  circumstances,  and  not 
irom  nature,  as  I  shall  heieafter  explain  to  your 
majesty,  and  confm-i  mysi  If  at  present  to  the  de- 
scription of  its  loci  Uion.  It  looks  towards 
the  south,  on  which  side  e  harbor  is  half  a  league 
broad  ;  afterwards,  upon  entering  it,  the  extent  be- 
tween the  coast  and  north  is  twelve  leagues,  and 
then  enlarging  itself,  it  forms  a  very  large  bay, 
twenty  leagues  in  circumference,  in  which  are  five 
small  islands  of  great  fertility  and  beauty,  covered 
with  large  and  lofty  trees.  Among  these  islands 
any  fleet,  however  large,  might  ride  safely,  without 
fear  of  tempests  or  dangers.  Turning  towards  the 
south,  tit  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  on  both  sides, 
there  are  very  pleasant  hills,  and  many  streams  of 
clear  water,  which  flow  down  to  the  sea." 

It  is  upon  this  indefinite  and  unsatisfactory  de- 
scription of  Verazzano,  unaccompanied  byanyciiart 
from  him,  that  some  authors  have  asserted  that  he 
refers  to  Hudson  River  and  the  Bay  of  New  York. 
Others  deny  this,  and  maintain  that  his  description 
will  not  apply  there.     After  a  careful  examination 


^^9 

n 


INDIANS    ASTONISHED. 


41 


of  tlie  siil)joct,  Yates  ami  Moiiltoii,  in  tlioir  History 
ot  New  Yolk,  say,  "  AVe  believe  that,  altlioiiirh 
Verazzjino  may  have  touched  at  Sandy  Hook, 
coasted  Long  Island,  and  visited  one  of  our  former 
islands  in  its  nortii-eastern  vicinity,  and  in  the  lati- 
tude mentioned  by  him,  yet  he  never  entered  our 
bay  or  river,  (Hudson.)  It  appears  to  us  that  tliis 
description  may  apply  with  tolerable  precision  to 
Newport,  in  Rhode  Island.  There  are  the  small 
islands,  the  gulf,  the  safe  moorinjj  for  a  navy,  the 
outlets  to  the  sea  of  many  rivers,  whether  we  in- 
clude those  of  Taunton,  Lees,  Coles,  Palmers,  and 
Seakonk  or  Pawtucket,  euiptyinj^  into  the  gulf  or 
sea,  or  tlie  east  passage  and  other  outlets  to  the 
ocean."  The  island  of  triangular  form,  resembling 
the  Island  of  Rhodes,  is  believed  to  be  Block  Island, 
situated  near  the  eastern  extremity  of  Long  Island, 
and  south  of  Rhode  Island. 

At  the  place  which  Verazzano  mentions  as  being 
fifteen  leagues  distant  from  the  island,  he  was  met 
by  twenty  canoes,  full  of  peoj)le,  who  rowed  around 
the  ship,  uttering  exclamations  of  astonishment. 
Being  fejirful  of  these  strange  visitors,  the  Indians 
kept  at  a  safe  distance.  They  seem  to  have  been  sus- 
picious of  the  Frenchmen's  kidnapping  propensities. 
At  tirst  they  would  not  come  nearer  than  within  fifty 
paces  ;  but  afterwards,  by  the  show  of  presents  and 
signs  of  friendship  from  the  vessel,  they  approached 


I 
t  > 

(! 
'i 

V 


i 


i1 


fJOLD    NOT    VALUED. 


siifliciently  close  to  cntch  the  articles,  such  as  bells, 
mirror^i,  and  other  toys,  which  were  thrown  to  them, 
with  which  they  were  greatly  })leased.  They  after- 
ward'! came  on  hoard  without  fear.  Among  them 
were  "  two  kings,  more  beautit'nl  in  form  and  stature 
than  can  |)ossihly  he  described."  They  were  clothed 
with  deer  skins,  handsomely  embroidered  with  dam- 
f«sk  figures.  Their  heads  were  uncovered.  Their 
long,  straight,  dark  hair  was  tied  back  with  various 
knots.  Their  necks  were  ornamented  with  a  large 
chain,  containing  many  different  colored  stones. 
These  were  the  best  lookinj;  tribe  that  Verazzano 
saw  on  the  coast,  Their  faces  were  narrow,  their 
eyes  black  and  piercing,  and  yet  the  general  expres- 
sion of  their  features  was  mild  and  pleasant.  Tlie 
women,  though  but  partially  dressed,  were  more  or- 
namented than  the  men.  Copper  was  more  highly 
esteemed  among  them  than  gold.  As  yellow  is  a 
color  which  they  es})ecially  dislike,  they  set  but  little 
value  on  gold.  They  are  particularly  pleased  with 
red  and  azure.  Of  the  presents  which  they  received 
from  the  French,  they  were  the  most  gratified  with 
bells,  azure  crystals,  and  jewels  to  suspend  in  their 
ears  or  hanj!:  around  their  necks.  It  is  somewhat 
singular  that  tiiey  had  no  desire  for  looking-glasses. 
They  did  not  even  keep  them  when  given  to  them. 
They  looked  into  them,  smiled,  and  then  returned 
them.  They  were  hospitable  and  generous,  giving 
away  any  articles  thr'v  possessed. 


A  strangf:  mkthod  of  bartkring. 


43 


On  tl)(!  5tli  of  AImv,  l'y2\,  Vcra/./.juio  \r.\i\v  tliesc 
friciully  natives  ndirn,  and,  dircrtiny'  hi.s  course  by 
the  coast,  lie  sailed  a  liundred  and  fifty  leajrues. 
Ife  observed  that  the  land  rose  hi'iher,  and  appar- 
ently contained  minerals.  The  people  whom  he 
met  were  far  more  rude  and  savaj^e  than  those  he 
last    left.       He    went    ashore    and    examined    their 


Novel  .Mode  ol  IJiiricriug. 

dwellings,  and  found  that  they  lived  uixvn  fish,  fruits, 
rind  roots.  He  could  hold  no  satisfactory  commu- 
ui  ;ation  with  them.  When  the  French  wished  to 
trade  with  them,  so  timid  were  these  Indians  that 
ihey  came  to  the  chfl's,  near  iV^>  ocean,  and  then 
lowered  down  by  a  cord  whatever  articles  they  had 
to    barter.      The     Frenchmen '  below    would    untie 


i 

f 

0 
t 

u 

i 
0* 

i 


^ 


mtgHmmmmmmmmmmm 


44 


VERAZZANO'S    DEATH. 


lliem,  and  in  their  place  fasten  tlie  articles  which 
they  exchanged  in  their  stead  ;  the  Indians  at  the 
same  time  crying*  out  for  them  to  come  no  nearer, 
and  demanding  that  the  exchanges  should  he  in- 
stantly made.  They  would  receive  nothing  hul 
knives,  fishhooks,  and  sharpened  steel.  No  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  signs  of  friendship  or  courtesy  ; 
and  when  the  French  departed  from  the  shore,  the 
savages,  by  certain  significant  gestures,  exhibited 
towards  them  the  greatest  contempt.  Tfcj,ey  at- 
tempted to  prevent  their  landing ;  but  whSn  tluy 
found  this  impossible,  after  pouring  into  them  a 
shower  of  arrows,  they  fled  to  the  woods,  uttering 
loud  and  horrible  cries.  After  sailing  along  these 
shores  for  the  distance  of  seven  hundred  leagues, 
and  collecting  all  the  information  he  could,  Veraz- 
zano  returned  to  France  and  made  his  report  to  the 
king.  This  report  is  the  earliest  description  of  the 
coast  of  North  America  now  known  to  be  in  ex- 
istence. His  discoveries  gave  France  a  claim  to 
large  portions  of  the  new  world.  He  had  actually 
sailed  along  the  whole  coast  of  the  United  States, 
and  a  considerable  portion  of  British  America. 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  Verazzano  made  a 
second  voyage,  when  he  came  to  an  untimely  end. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  seized  by  the  savages,  ki/ledi 
and  eaten.     Tliis,  however,  is  not  certain. 


45 


CHAPTER    III. 


Attempts  at  eoloiiiziiij^.  —  Failures. —  Pamphilo  dc  Narvaez.  ■^ 
Terrific  Hurricane.  —  Sacrilegious  Proceeding.  —  Narvacz  sccka 
for  Gold.  —  A  Man-riding  Chief. —  An  Accident.  —  A  Town 
taken.  —  Amhusli.  —  The  Party  diminished.  —  The  Sea  found.— 
Original  Boat-buililing.  —  Perilous  Coasting.  —  Boats  scat- 
tered.—  End  of  the  E.\pedilion.  —  Alvaro  Nunez  escapes.— 
Juan  de  Orliz  remains  behind. 


After  the  discovery  of  Florida  by  Ponce  de 
Leon,  ill  addition  to  tlie  Freiicli,  various  Spanish 
adventurers  made  it  a  visit,  and  coasted  many  miles 
alonjr  its  shores,  obtaining  some  idea  of  the  size  of 
the  immense  continent  to  which  it  belonged.  There 
were  tho.se,  also,  who  desired  to  make  explorations 
in  the  interior,  with  the  hope  of  finding  it  as  pro- 
ductive in  gold  and  precious  stones  as  they  had  dis- 
covered South  America  to  be.  Among  these  was 
Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  who,  in  June,  1527,  em 
barked  at  St.  Lucas,  with  five  vessels  and  six  hun- 
dred men.  Whilst  stoj)ping  at  Dominica,  one  of 
the  West  India  Islands,  he  experienced  one  of  those 
terrific  hurricanes  common  in  that  climate.  The 
walls  and  houses  of  the  city  were  blown  down ; 
trees  were  torn  up  by  the  rocts ;  the  sea  was  in 
violent  commotion ;  the  lives  of  men  were  de- 
stroyed ;  the  vessels  were  tossed    about  like  chips 


Ji 
Si 

il 

4 


IHHIHIH 


46 


SEARCH    FOR    GOI.T>. 


li: 


upon  tlie  water,  and  when  tlic  storm  abafcd  it  wa 
fonnd  that  the  vessel  of  Alvsiro  Nnne/,  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  expedition,  was  entirely  de- 
stroyed. Sonje  of  the  rnen  here  abandoned  the 
enterprise,  so  that  the  six  hundred  folh)wers  of 
Paniphih)  were  reduced  to  four  hundred.  Tl»ey 
remained  here  till  sjjring,  when  they  set  sail  f<»r 
I'lorida,  the  land  of  promise,  which  they  reached  on 
the  12th  of  April.  They  soon  landed,  and  pushed 
into  the  interior.  They  discovered  a  nund)er  of 
chests,  containing  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  which 
Narvaez  conjectured  were  in  some  way  connected 
with  idolatry.  He  therefore  ordered  these  cases 
and  their  contents  to  be  consumed  to  ashes  — a  pro- 
ceeding which  was  directly  adaj)ted  to  excite  the 
abhorrence  of  the  natives,  and  induce  them  to  treat 
with  hostility  those  who  could  in  this  manner  abuse, 
without  any  just  cause,  the  remains  of  the  dead. 
The  eyes  of  the  Spaniards  were  especially  attracted 
by  certain  golden  ornaments  worn  by  the  Indians  ; 
they  earnestly  incpiired  where  this  metal  could  be 
found.  The  wily  savages,  to  get  rid  of  their  un- 
welcome invaders,  told  them  that  the  precious  metal 
abounded  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  at  a  place 
called  Apalachee.  Narvae/,  though  opposed  by 
some  of  his  officers,  determined  to  set  out  at  once 
in  pursuit  of  the  gold  region.  Taking  with  him 
three   hundred   men,  of  whom    forty  were  mounted 


MAN'-HIDINr.     KING. 


47 


upon  horses,  eacli  liaviri^:  two  pounds  of  biscuit  ar.(J 
half  a  ])ound  of  j)oik,  ho  coninuMH'cd  liis  niandi. 
After  a  dreary  journey,  aeconipanied  with  heat,  liun- 
ger,  and  fatiijue,  of  fifteen  days,  without  seein<r  any 
hahit.'ition   or  any   human   hein<r,  thev  finally  nn't   a 


caeique,  l)eing  carried  in  state  upon  an  huhan 


hack, 


and  elythed  in  an  ornamented  deer's  skin.      He  was 


Man-ridiii;:  Kiiitr. 

attended  by  many  of  his  tribe,  some  of  wliom 
seemed  to  be  a  band  of  musicians,  for  they  marched 
before  him  playing  upon  jnpes,  made  of  reed-. 
They  inquired  of  this  man-riding  chief  concerning 
Apalachee,  and  learnt  tliat  it  was  a  territory  witli 
winch  he  was  at  war.  Having  obtained  guides, 
Pamphilo    dc  Narvacz   proceeded  on    bis  way,  and 


^ 


i^ 


k 


48 


A    CrrV   TAKEN. 


came  to  a  river  whose  current  was  so  rapid  tli.it,  in 
attein|)tin<r  to  cross  it  on  horseback,  John  Vehisqiie/,  n 
fearless  rider,  was  h)st,  with  his  noble  charger.  Tliey 
obtained  the  body  of  the  drowned  animal,  which  fur- 
nished them  with  the  most  acceptable  meal  they 
had  eaten  for  many  days.  The  rest  of  the  company 
passed  over  in  boats  and  rafts.  After  a  tedious  mar:  h 
through  a  low,  flat  country  of  sand,  marshes,  <uid 
forests,  encumbered  with  prostrate  trees,  they,  on  the 
'25th  of  June,  reached  the  much-desired  town  of  Apa- 
lachee,  supposed  to  have  been  near  the  Bay  of  Pen- 
sacola.  Here  they  expected  to  find  not  oidy  an 
abundance  of  good  living,  but  also  plenty  of  gold. 
The  town  consis<^'jd  of  forty  low  wigwams,  well 
protected  by  woods  and  morasses.  Some  of  the 
horsemen  rode  into  it,  but  found  no  one  at  home 
but  the  women  and  children.  They  discovered 
quantities  of  grain,  deer  skins,  mantles,  female 
head-dresses,  and  stones  for  grinding  corn.  When 
the  Indians  returned,  they  were  amazed  to  see 
white  men  on  huge  animals  riding  around  among 
their  quiet  dwellings.  Not  liking  their  appearance, 
they  sent  some  arrows  among  them,  which  killed 
one  of  the  Spanish  horse.  They  were  charged 
upon  by  the  Spaniards,  and  retreated  to  the  woods. 
They  appealed  to  the  invaders  to  deliver  up  their 
wives  and  children.  Their  request  was  granted. 
Bi.t  the    Spaniards,  having  obtained  possession  of 


INVISIBLE    FOES. 


40 


their  chief,  refused  to  surrender  him.  This  so  en- 
raged them  that  tliey  made  several  attempts  to  set 
the  town  on  fire  and  burn  the  enemy  out.  Tliey 
also  concealed  themselves  in  the  neighboring  morass 
and  woods,  and  galled  the  Spaniards  with  their  ar- 
rows at  every  opportunity.  As  Narvaez  found  the 
land  poor  and  destitute  of  the  expected  gold,  and 
being  told  by  the  captive  chief  that  t'.ie  ])rovince  of 
Ante,  now  known  as  the  Bay  of  St.  Mark,  possessed 
an  abundance  of  provisions,  for  which  his  comjjaiiy 
were  suffering,  he  directed  his  course  thither.  On 
his  way,  whilst  passing,  with  difficulty,  through  a 
lagoon,  or  morass,  with  the  water  breast  high,  they 
were  suddenly  beset  by  an  invisible  foe.  Arrows 
were  poured  upon  them  like  a  storm  of  hail.  The 
attack  could  not  be  returned  until  the  swamp  was 
crossed,  and  even  then  the  cavalry  could  not  be 
brought  to  act.  They  were  obliged  to  dismount 
and  pursue  the  enemy  on  foot.  In  this  manner 
they  were  incessantly  annoyed  for  eight  days. 
Every  morass  or  piece  of  woods  they  passed  seemed 
to  be  instinct  with  life  —  an  ever-vigilant  enemy  was 
hovering  around  their  path,  and  sending  the  shafts 
of  death  among  their  ranks.  At  Ante  they  found 
plenty  of  maize.  When  they  reached  there,  they 
were  in  a  bad  condition.  All  their  sanguine  hopes 
were  blasted.  Nearly  one  third  of  their  number 
had  died,  whilst  more  than  a 'third  were  on  the  sick 


t. , 

il 

y 

¥■■* 

H 


.  i 


mmmmm 


50 


DESPERATE    SHIP-BUILDERS. 


I 


^4 


list.  The  prospect  was,  that  if  they  continued  their 
march  nmch  longer,  thej  would  all  perish  through 
disease  or  from  the  attacks  of  the  Indians.  They 
were  now  anxious  to  find  the  sea.  A  party  sent 
out  for  discoveries  found  a  small  river,  which  ap- 
peared to  open  into  a  broad  bay.  It  was  now  a 
painful  question,  What  shall  be  done  ?  They  were 
a  helpless  band  of  disheartened  adventurers,  with 
disease,  hostile  Indians,  and  death  behind  them,  and 
the  broad  sea  before  them.  No  vessels  were  at 
hand,  and  none  were  expected.  The  only  recourse 
left  them  was  the  construction  of  boats  on  the  spot 
to  carry  them  away.  Here  almost  insurmountable 
difficulties  met  th^m.  They  were  not  acquainted 
with  ship-building,  neither  had  they  any  appropriate 
tools  or  materials  with  which  to  work.  Cut  as  this 
course  furnished  them  their  only  gleam  of  hope, 
they  went  to  work  with  the  energy  of  despair.  Ne- 
cessity, the  author  of  many  ingenious  contrivances, 
came  to  their  aid.  A  large  bellows  Avas  constructed 
out  of  wooden  pipes  (probably  the  joints  of  some 
bamboo  canes)  and  the  skins  of  beasts.  Their 
stirrups,  spurs,  cross-bars,  and  any  other  iron  imple- 
ments which  they  might  no  longer  want,  were 
wrouglit  into  hatchets,  nails,  and  saws.  The  fibrous 
part  of  the  palm-tree  furnished  oakum,  and  when 
mixed  with  hair,  made  ropes  for  rigging.  The  sap 
or  turpentine  of  the  pine-tree  answered  very  well 


MIDNIGHT    ATTACK. 


51 


for  tnr.  To  construct  sails,  they  robbed  themselves 
oi"  their  shirts,  cut  them  open,  and  then  sewed  liiem 
t()<;ether.  With  such  hearty  good  will  aid  they 
work,  that  hetwe^^n  the  4tli  of  August  and  the  2"2d 
of  Decemher  they  completed  five  boats,  each  sulli- 
<:ieiitJy  large  to  accommodfite,  though  very  incon- 
vei.iently,  forty  or  fifty  persons.  When  they  were 
all  embarked,  only  a  few  inches  of  the  boats  wer« 
above  water.  None  bjit  men  on  the  verge  of  despair 
would  have  ventured  to  sea  in  this  hazardous  man- 
ner. After  sailing  in  this  crowded  condition  some 
six  or  seven  days,  they  came  to  an  island  where  they 
found  several  canoes,  which  they  attached  to  their 
boats,  and  in  wliich  they  towed  some  of  their  party. 
They  sailed  on  for  a  whole  month  without  finding  a 
Iiarbor.  Their  water  gave  out,  their  victuals  were 
scarce,  and  death  stared  them  in  the  face.  Some 
of  them,  impelled  by  extreme  tliirst,  drank  the 
water  of  the  ocean,  and  soon  after  died.  Tliey  at 
last  reached  a  harbor,  where  was  an  Indian  town. 
Here  they  were  hospitably  received.  Finding  water 
by  the  door  of  each  hut,  they  drank  as  they  never 
<hd  before.  The  Indians  provided  them  with  baked 
lish,  wliich  furnished  a  very  acceptable  meal.  So 
kiiidly  were  they  treated,  tluit  they  resolved  to  tariy 
with  them  till  the  morning,  and  have  a  good  night's 
rest  on  terra  firma.  They  were  again  disa})pointed. 
At   midnight,  the.se  Indians  were  attacked  by  a  hos 


5^ 


1^ 

'A 


■on 


52 


AI>VENTTTRES    Or    ALVARO. 


as: 


^iSi 


tile  tribe,  and  fled,  leaving  the  Spaniards  to  dcfetm 
themselves  alone.  Narvaez  and  almost  all  his  men 
were  wounded  before  the  enemy  were  repulsed. 
They  were  glad  to  hasten  from  such  belli<^ercnt 
neighbors.  They  soon  after  discovered  another 
populous  harbor,  and  managed  to  create  a  quarrel 
which  obliged  them  to  make  a  hasty  retreat.  They 
were  again  reduced  to  a  forlorn  condition.  Tiicir 
provisions  were  almost  gone,  and  the  boats  found  it 
difficult  to  sail  in  company.  Alvaro  Nunez  asked 
of  Narvaez  what  should  be  done.  "  Every  man 
must  look  out  for  himself,"  was  the  answer  ;  and 
soon  after  he  was  out  of  sight,  never  to  be  seen 
Hgain.  Thus  fatally  terminated  the  expedition  of 
Pcimphilo  de  Narvaez  after  Floridian  gold. 

Some  of  the  Spaniards,  after  they  were  abandoned 
by  Narvaez,  their  leader,  were  seized  by  the  In- 
dians and  reduced  to  servitude.  Among  these  were 
Juan  de  Ortiz  and  Alvaro  Nunez.  They  were  also 
compelled  to  practise  as  physicians.  In  vain  did 
they  plead  ignorance  of  the  art.  Their  captors 
would  not  beheve  them.  To  satisfy  them,  the  Span- 
iards breathed  upon  their  patients  and  pronounced 
over  them  some  Spanish  words,  whicii  the  ignorant 
and  superstitious  savages  believed  were  of  great  effi- 
cacy ;  for  from  that  moment  the  patients  declared 
that  they  experienced  very  great  relief. 

Alvaro  managed  to  escape  and  penetrate  into  the 


JUAN    DE    ORTIZ    LEFT. 


5r 


interior.  He  carried  with  him  marine  phmts  and 
shells,  which  he  exchanged  with  the  inland  tribes. 
With  his  exchanges  he  returned  to  the  coast,  and 
traded  them  oft'  to  the  natives  there.  In  this  man- 
ner he  spent  several  years  as  a  pedler  between  tlie 
tribes  on  the  coast  and  those  who  were  inland.  As 
these  tribes  were  at  war,  they  would  not  trade  direct- 
ly with  each  other,  but  they  were  very  glad  to  have 
a  neutral  communication  opened  between  them 
During  this  time  Alvaro  was  gathering  information 
so  as  to  know  what  course  to  pursue  in  order  to 
reach  Mexico.  After  obtaining  sufficient  knowledge 
to  start,  he  slipped  away  and  directed  his  course  to 
the  west.  He  crossed  the  Mississippi ;  reached  the 
confines  of  Texas ;  pressed  on  towards  Mexico ; 
struggled  through  swamps ;  wandered,  faint  and 
weary,  through  deserts  and  over  mountains ;  fled 
from  some  tribes,  was  captured  by  others ;  now 
working  as  a  slave,  and  then  practising  as  a  physi- 
cian, he  finally,  after  incredible  hardships  and  ad- 
ventures, some  tragic  and  others  romantic,  arrived 
at  Compostella,  a  Spanish  settlement  in  Mexico, 
about  fifty  miles  from  the  Pacific  Ocean,  where  he 
was  received  with  kind  hospitality.  He  was  accom- 
panied in  these  long  and  tedious  rambles,  across  an 
uncivilized  continent,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pa- 
cific, by  two  or  three  Spanish  comrades.  Juan  de 
Ortiz  was  left  behind. 


t 

f 

r 
f 

r' 
i\ 

4 

ft-s 

*^ 

k 

k 

H 


i 


I 


54 


p 


CHAPTER    IV. 

James  C'-^rlicr.  —  Islaiifl  of  Birds.  —  Eflect  of  Musketry.  —  Eflecl 
of  Presciils,  —  Timid  Damsels.  —  Miserable  Livers.  —  Great 
G  ilf  discovered.  —  And  Explored.  —  Donnacoiiiia.  —  Gives 
away  two  of  his  Children. —  Frijfhtfiil  Stories.  —  Strange  Mode 
of  Warning.  —  The  River.  —  Ilochelcga.  —  Native  Hospital- 
ity.—  Venerated  Chief.  —  Meaning  of  Montreal.  —  Dreadful 
Disct'ise.  —  A  deceptive  Device.  —  Ceremonies  and  Vows. — 
Indian  Remedy. —  King  stealing.  —  The  Trap  laid,  and 
sj)rung.  —  Grief  turned  to  Joy.  —  Kidnai)ped  King  introduced 
to  Court.  —  Lord  of  Roberval.  —  Expedition  of  Hore.  —  Fat 
Birds.  —  Following  the  Natives. —  Primitive  Cooking. —  Intense 
Suflerings.  —  Cannibalism.  —  The  fatal  Lot.  —  Starvation  in 
the  Midst  of  Plenty.  —  Welcome  Arrival.  —  Piracy.  —  The 
two  Kings. 

In  tlie  year  1506,  one  Jean  Denys  sailed  from  Hon 
fleur,  a  seaport  at  the  mouth  of  the  Seine  in  France, 
to  Newfoundland.  He  explored  and  drew  a  map  of 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  tiie  adjacent  coasts 
In  1508,  Thomas  Aubert  sailed  from  Dieppe,  itt 
Frauce,  to  Newfoundland,  passed  up  the  St.  Law 
rence,  kidnapped  some  of  the  natives,  and  tool» 
tliem  to  Paris. 

Ir.  the  course  of  a  {ew  years,  he  was  followed  In 
.lames  Cartier,  a  bold  mariner  of  St.  Malo.  He  se 
sail  from  France,  April  ^Oth,  15!ll,  and  came  in  sigh 
of  Cape  Bonavista  on  the  10th  of  May.     Though  ii 


was 

whicfl 

tion 

wVticI 

liaysj 

arres 

digi<J 

iunn< 

they 

wcr< 

of   1 

theii 

of 
deslJ 


ISLAND    OF    BIROS 


65 


was  thus  late  in  the  season,  the  larjfc  masses  of  ice 
whic.li  were  floating  around  him  rendered  his  condi- 
tion sonicwiiat  dangerous.  He  put  into  a  harbor, 
whicli  lie  named  St.  Catherine,  and  remained  ten 
liays.  Then  pushing  to  the  north,  his  attention  was 
arrested  by  an  island  which  was  covered  by  a  pro- 
digious number  of  birds.  As  seen  from  the  sea,  sc 
iitunerous  were  they,  and  standing  so  close  together 
they  appeared  like  crops  of  grain.  He  says  there 
were  enough  there  to  have  loaded  the  whole  navy 
of  France,  without  any  perceptible  diminution  of 
their  number.  It  was  appropriately  called  the  Idaim 
of  Birds.  He  describes  Newfoundland  as  entirely 
destitute  of  land,  saying  there  was  not  enough  to 
have  loaded  a  cart.  It  was  nothing  but  rock  and 
sand.  The  natives  were  tall,  strong,  and  fierce. 
Five  canoes  of  them  surrounded  a  French  lioitt 
which  had  been  sent  on  shore,  and  with  dancings 
and  loud  shouts  gave  it  a  savage  welcome.  Tl.e 
Frenchmen  were  not  particularly  pleased  with  thoe 
uncouth  demonstrations,  nor  with  the  large  numbers 
that  began  to  assemble ;  they  therefore  discharged 
some  of  their  guns,  when  immediately  the  savages 
all  started  off  upon  a  run,  as  if  the  report  of  the 
guns  had  been  the  signal  for  a  general  stampede. 
The  next  day  they  appeared  again  in  nine  canoes, 
and  timidly  showed  skins,  with  which  they  appeared 
desirous  to   open  a  trade.     The  French  exhibited 


*  < 


^ 

^ 


d 


f6 

b. 


,  i 


cs 


INDIAN    DAMSELS. 


signs  of  friendship,  and  soon  seemed  tlieir  ronfi 
dence.  Wlien  the  knives  and  trinkets  of  tlie  French 
were  shown  them,  they  hegan  to  dance  with  great 
energy,  accompanying  their  motions  with  hnid  shouts 
of  joy,  whicli  might  have  been  heard  far  out  upon 
the  water.  So  anxious  were  they  to  possess  these 
coveted  objects,  that  they  not  only  gave  all  the  skins 
which  they  had  brought  for  purposes  of  traific,  hut 
even  took  off  those  which  they  wore  as  garments, 
and  exchanged  them  with  tlieir  visitors,  and  then 
returned  to  the  shore  naked  to  obtain  more. 

At  another  place  on  the  coast  they  were  visited 
by  forty  boats,  containing  about  two  hundred  men, 
women,  and  children.  The  Indian  damsels  were  at 
first  concealed  in  a  grove  on  shore ;  but  when  the 
French  began  to  distribute  their  toys,  and  gave 
some  to  two  or  three  of  these  girls,  the  others  were 
quickly  enticed  from  their  hiding-places  to  receive 
their  share.  Cartier  describes  them  as  the  most 
miserable  mortals  he  ever  beheld.  They  were  scan- 
tily clothed  with  worthless  skins,  lived  on  berries 
and  fish,  and  slept  under  their  boats,  which  at  night 
they  drew  to  the  shore  and  turned  upside  down 
After  sailing  along  the  irregular  northern  coast  of 
Newfoundland,  he  do»d)led  the  northern  cape,  steered 
south,  and  was  the  first  to  pass  through  the  Straits 
of  Belleislc,  which,  until  that  time,  had  been  taken 
for  a  bay. 


A   GREAT    GULF    DISCOVERKD. 


r>7 


He  relumed  to  France,  and  was  soon  fitted  for 
another  voyage  to  the  same  coast.  On  this  second 
voyage  he  saw  a  large  gulf,  which,  as  lie  passed  it 
on  the  day  of  St.  Lawrence,  he  called  the  (iulf  of 
St.  Lawrence.  Having  been  informed  by  the  In- 
dians that  it  was  the  outlet  of  a  large  river,  he 
sailed  into  it,  and  found  it  gradually  diniinishing  in 
width  until  it  v/aa  indeed  only  a  river.  He  passed 
up  it,  till  he  reached  the  Island  which  is  now  called 
Orleans.  He  was  here  visited  by  Domiaconna,  the 
ruler  of  this  region,  with  about  five  hundred  of  his 
subjects,  of  all  ages  and  sexes.  Donnaconna  made 
a  long  speech,  in  a  language  not  one  word  of  which 
the  French  understood,  but  which,  from  his  tones 
of  voice  and  general  appearance,  they  interpreted 
as  of  a  friendly  nature,  at  the  close  of  which  his 
whole  p«irty  gave  "  three  tremendous  howls,  as 
another  sign  of  welcome."  Donnaconna  then  made 
to  Cartier  a  present  of  a  boy  and  girl,  which  he 
said  were  his  own  son  and  daughter. 

Cartier  desired  to  ascend  the  river  still  higher. 
Donnaconna  was  opposed.  One  of  the  chiefs  int  - 
mated  that  if  they  had  been  aware  of  his  intention, 
he  would  not  have  been  presented  with  the  children. 
Cartier  offered  to  relinquish  them  rather  than  not 
sail  up.  They  endeavored  to  dissuade  him  from  his 
purpose  by  stories  of  ire,  rocks,  rapids,  and  other 
perils.      Being  unsuccessful  with  these,  they  resorted 


£3 

i 


F 


58 


A    SINGULAR    EXPEDIENT. 


:\  !iP': 


I" 


to  other  methods.  Tliree  Indians,  painted  in  a 
most  hideous  manner,  with  their  heads  armed,  heast- 
hke,  with  horns,  came  out  in  a  small  canoe,  rowed 
r.)und  the  vessel,  and  made  short  si)eeches  and 
straiifTC  {gesticulations.  As  interpreted  to  Carticr, 
these  three  repulsive  looking  ohjects  were  messen- 
gers from  the  Indian  supreme  deity,  who  had  been 
sent  to  warn  the  French  that  if  they  attempted  to 
ascend  the  river  any  farther,  they  would  meet  with 
disasters,  and  all  would  inevitably  die.  It  is  prob- 
able that  all  this  opposition  only  served  to  increase 
the  desire  of  the  French  to  see  that  which  tlie  In- 
dians were  so  anxious  to  conceal  from  them.  Car- 
tier  determined  to  penetrate  to  a  place  called  Ilocbe- 
h;ga.  In  doing  so,  he  was  obliged  to  take  small 
boats.  As  he  ascended  the  noble  stream  of  tlie  St. 
Lawrence,  he  was  delighted  with  the  banks,  wliicb, 
on  cither  side,  were  crowned  with  lofty  trees,  inter- 
laced with  vines  bearing  grapes,  which,  though  not 
equal  to  those  of  Franco,  were  quite  agreeable  to 
the  taste.  As  he  ])roceeded  on  his  way,  he  fell  isi 
with  a  native  lord,  who  presented  him  with  another 
princess,  eight  years  of  age,  and  who  also  endeav- 
ored to  dissuade  him  from  ascending  farther.  But 
he  persevered  until  he  came  to  Ilochelega,  an  In- 
dian town  of  a  circular  form,  strongly  protected  by 
a  palisade  of  stakes.  It  consisted  of  .about  fifty 
houses,  each  containing  a  number  of  difierent  a})art- 


ll 


A    VENERATED    CHIEF. 


r>9 


ments,  as  sleeping^  rooms  for  separate  fimiilios,  with 
a  lar«»c  iiall  in  the  centre,  wliich  was  used  as  a  com- 
mon  diniacr  saloon,  and  gatherinj^  place  for  all  the 
tenants.  They  were  well  supplied  with  dried  i\>\i 
and  grain,  with  cucumhers,  melons,  and  other  fruit >. 
The  visit  of  these  white  strangers  soon  dn'.v 
together  as  many  as  a  thousand  Indians,  wl.o 
extended  to  them  the  usual  Indian  welcome,  hy 
addresses,  dances,  and  savage  howlings.  Some  even 
wept  for  joy  when  they  saw  the  valuahle  presents 
which  their  visitors  hrought  them.  Cartier  was  led 
to  the  largest  house  in  the  city,  which  proved  to  he 
the  j)alace,  such  as  it  was,  for  in  it  he  was  intro- 
duced to  the  prince,  or  governor,  whom  he  found  to 
be  an  old  decrepit  man.  In  his  personal  appearance 
he  was  distinguished  from  the  other  Indians  only  hy 
a  cap  made  of  furs,  which  were  regarded  as  pecu- 
liarly rich  and  beautiful.  He  was  greatly  venerated 
by  the  people,  several  of  whom  brought  their  sick, 
to  receive  the  benefit  of  his  healing  touch. 

Behind  Ilochelega  was  a  high  elevation  of  land, 
which  Cartier  ascended  and  named  3Iont-rcal,  (]M(»n- 
treal,)  i.  e..  Royal  Mount,  by  which  it  is  called  to  this 
day.  On  his  return  down  the  river,  his  crew  were  . 
attacked  with  what  to  them  was  an  unkntiwn  dis- 
ease, the  sym])toms  of  which  were  discolored  blood, 
swollen  and  putrefied  ginns,  {ittendcd  with  general 
prostration  of  strength      It  was  probably  that  dread 


It 
m 


b-O 


FARCK    ON    SHIFHOAItD. 


fill  disease,  the    scurvy.      Not  tliree   of  the  whole 
number    escaped    it.      So    fatal    were    its    ravages, 
Ihat  tlie  survivors  had  not  strenjj^tli  to  bury  the  dead. 
Being   unable    to    dig  their   graves    in    tlie    frozen 
■ground,  tiiey  were  obhged  to  leave  them  witii  merely 
ft  coverinjf  of  snow.     Cartier   was  learful  lest  the 
natives    should   discover  the    crippled    state    of   his 
crew,  and,  by  taking  advantage  of  it,  make  them  al. 
prisoners.     He  therefore  pretended  that  he  was  car- 
rying on  great  repairs  within  his  vessel,  and  no  one 
must  come  on  board.     Whenever  the   Indians  came 
around  his  ship,  in  order  to  keep  up  the  deception 
he  obliged  all  the  crew  who  could  to  come  on  deck, 
and   to    walk    busily    backwards    and    forwards,    as 
though  they  were  hard  at   work ;  and  such  as  had 
strength  enough  to  carry  any  thing  were  loaded  with 
whatever  happened  to  be  at  hand,  with  which  they 
were  ordered  to   make  as  much    noise  as   possible, 
whilst  the  captain  himself  was  constantly  crying  out 
to   those  below  to  increase   their   industry,  or  they 
should  be  punished  —  all  of  which  was  a  mere  farce 
to  blind  the  Indians,  and  might  have  been  appropri- 
ately styled  "  Much  ado  about  nothing." 

To  arrest  the  dreadful  malady,  recourse  was  had 
to  superstition  and  religious  vows.  Cartier  ordered 
an  image  of  the  Virgin  Mary  to  be  elevated  upon  a 
tree  a  short  distance  from  the  river,  and  the  service 
of  mass   to   be    performed.      All    of   the    men   whu 


THE    SCURVY. 


Gl 


were  able  to  walk,  were  recjuived  to  attend  it  in  pro- 
cession, lie  also  made  a  solemn  vow,  that  it'  lie 
should  he  i)erniitted  to  return  to  France,  he  would 
go  on  a  pilgrimaj^e  to  the  shrine  of  Madimna  de 
liocq\iemado.  But  the  mass  and  the  vow  were  at- 
tended with  no  healiiij^  properties.  Yci  Cartier  ob- 
served that  the  Indians  who  were  attacked  soon 
recovered.  lie  desired  to  learn  their  mode  of  treat- 
ment. After  earnest  solicitation,  they  pointed  out 
to  him  a  tree,  of  the  leaves  and  bark  of  which  they 
made  a  decoction,  which  proved  a  sovereij^n  reiuedy. 
This  tree  was  white  [)ine.  Cartier  resorted  to  it, 
and  used  it  according  to  the  directions,  and  soon 
had  IfJie  pleasure  of  seeing  all  his  crew  rapidly  im- 
proving. 

After  this  discovery  of  the  Si.  Lawrence,  and  its 
exploration  to  Montreal,  Cartier  concluded  to  return 
home.  Previous  to  this,  he  formed  the  unrighteous 
design  of  capturing  Donnaconna,  an<l  carrying  him 
to  France.  This  native  King  of  Canada,  being 
suspicious  of  the  whites,  feigned  sickness  as  an  ex- 
cuse for  not  paying  them  a  parting  visit.  By  vari- 
ous devices  and  strong  protestations,  they  finally 
succeeded  in  allaying  his  fears,  and  inducing  him  to 
come  on  board.  The  captain  gave  a  splendid  en- 
tertainment, set  up  in  a  conspicuous  place  a  brilliant 
cross,  decorated  his  vessel  with  all  the  colors  in  hia 
possession,  and  invited  the  cliief  to  coine  on  board 
6 


I! 

% 


% 


62 


NEFARIOUS    OUTRAGE. 


i^f 


The  temptation  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted.  Tlie 
bait  took  —  Donnaconna  believed  the  lies  and  came 
on  board.  He  was  instantly  seized  and  taken  to  the 
cabin,  where  he  was  imprisoned.  When  the  Indians 
saw  the  treatment  which  their  chief  received,  they 
at  once  fled  and  concealed  themselves  in  the  woods. 
It  was  to  them  a  sore  trial.  During  the  darkness 
of  the  night  their  canoes  glided  out  silently  from  the 
shore  to  the  now  hateful  prison  ship,  around  which 
they  sailed  like  dim  phantoms,  "  howling  and  la- 
menting in  the  most  frightful  manner  over  the  fate 
of  their  lost  prince."  They  repeated  their  visit  the 
next  day,  and  accused  the  French  of  killing  their 
chief.  They  denied  it.  The  Indians  then  asked 
permission  to  see  him.  Donnaconna  was  now  re- 
leased from  his  cell,  to  come  on  deck.  In  compli- 
ance with  instructions  from  his  captors,  he  told  his 
people  that  his  treatment  was  kind,  that  he  was  volun- 
tarily going  on  a  visit  to  the  King  of  the  French,  and 
should  be  absent  only  ten  or  twelve  moons.  When 
his  credulous  people  heard  this,  their  anger  abated, 
and  they  gave  three  shouts  of  joy.  Donnaconna 
now  distributed  among  them  many  presents  which 
he  received  from  the  French,  and  they  in  return 
brought  to  the  vessel  a  good  supply  of  provi-ior  . 
for  the  voyage.     The  vessel  was  soon   un<  ly, 

and  ar  ived  at  St.  Malo,  in  France,  July  6th,      »-J6. 
The  introduction  to  the  court  of  France  ot  at 


FRENCH    COLONISTS. 


03 


Indian  kinjy  from  the  new  world,  nnd  from  n  terri- 
tory disirovercd  l)v  tlie  Freiicli,  was  both  a  novel 
and  an  important  event.  It  |)rodiiced  a  <>rcat  sensa- 
tion amon«^  that  excitable  people.  Yet  no  attenpt 
was  made  to  follow  np  these  discoveries  tor  four 
years.  At  the  end  of  this  period,  Francis  de  la 
llo(jue,  lord  of  Robervul,  a  nobleman  of  Picardy, 
undertook  to  found  a  colony  on  the  newly-iliscovered 
river.  To  encourage  him  in  the  enterprise,  the 
king  conferred  upon  him  the  office  of  viceroy  nnd 
lieutenant-general  of  Canada,  Hochelaga,  Norim- 
bega,  and  all  other  territories  in  that  vicinity.  These 
proved  to  be  empty  titles.  The  expedition  was  a 
failure.  Cartier  was  sent  out  first  as  his  pioneer,  in 
May,  1541,  with  the  titles  of  captain-general  and 
chief  pilot  of  the  enterprise.  The  commission 
which  he  received  authorized  him  to  ransack  the 
prisons  of  France  and  take  with  him,  to  be  founders 
of  the  new  colony,  fraudulent  bankrupts,  robbers, 
murderers,  and  all  other  criminals  except  those 
guilty  of  counterfeiting  and  treason.  Francis  de  la 
Roque  did  not  accompany  him.  They  were  jealous 
of  each  other,  and  did  not  act  in  ccncert.  Cartier 
penetrated  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Hochelaga,  and  near 
there  built  a  fort,  which  he  named  Charlebourg. 
When  his  vessel  came  in  sight,  the  Indians,  who 
had  been  waiting  impatiently  for  the  return  of  their 
absent  chief,  hailed  it  with  joy.     They  surrounded 


0 

SI 

% 

r 


h  i 


64 


COLONIAL    FAILURES. 


it,  and  inquired  for  Donnaconna.  Alas,  he  had  i  ot 
returned,  as  was  promised  !  The  kidnapped  prince 
hfid  died  in  France.  Tl»e  disappointment  of  the  In- 
dians was  severe.  Under  the  combined  influence 
of  grief  and  anger  they  assumed  an  attitude  of  iios- 
tihtj,  and  gave  the  colonists  great  trouble.  Cartier 
made  out  to  keep  his  company  together  through  the 
long  and  dreary  winter.  They  proved  a  sorry  f^A^ 
and  had  to  be  controlled  with  an  energetir  hand. 
They  were  very  unsuitable  persons  to  form  the 
foundation  of  a  state,  especially  in  the  midst  of  an 
uncivilized  people.  Diiring  this  first  and  only  winter 
of  their  residence  there,  such  was  the  wickedness  of 
their  conduct  that  a  number,  both  men  and  women, 
were  whipped,  several  were  bound  with  iron  fetters, 
and  one  was  executed  for  theft.  How  different 
from  the  colony  afterwards  formed  by  the  Puritans 
at  Plymouth  ! 

Cartier  left  on  his  return  in  June,  h.aving  heard 
nothing  of  the  main  body  of  the  colonists  a  ho 
were  to  have  come  out  with  Francis  de  la  Roque ; 
but  after  sailing  through  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
he  met  Francis  at  Ncwfo>mdland,  on  his  way  to 
ITochelaga  with  a  large  recnforcement  of  colonists, 
and  abundantly  ecpiipped  with  e.very  thing  necessary 
for  the  enterprise. 

The  whole  business  had  now  become  so  repulsive 
to  him,  that  Cartier  managed  to  give  Francis  the 


CAPTAIN    HOUR. 


65 


slip,  and  liai^iened  on  to  Franrc.  Frant'if«,  Lord  of 
Uoherval,  remained  in  the  country  about  a  year, 
when  lie  also  returned  witliout  tsecuring  any  perma- 
nent results. 

Durinjr  the  period  tliat  Cartier  was  n.aUinj^  his 
i  .vplorations  along  the  American  coast,  the  English 
xsere  als('  interested  in  maritime  adventures.  The 
same  year  (li>}())  that  this  French  navigator  returned 
to  his  own  land  from  his  second  vovajje,  taking 
with  him  the  captive  Donnaconna,  an  expediti(»n 
was  fitted  out  in  England  under  the  direction  of  a 
person  by  the  name  of  Ilorc.  He  was  furnished 
with  two  ships — the  Trinity  and  the  Minion.  He 
crossed  the  Atlantic  without  the  occurrence  of  any 
thing  unusual,  and  arrived  at  Cape  Breton.  From 
thence  he  sailed  to  the  north-cast,  and  arrived  at  an 
island  situated  at  the  south  of  Newfoundland.  This 
island  they  found  covered  with  a  species  of  ^^ea 
fowl,  which,  on  account  of  their  being  very  fat, 
were  called  by  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguese,  pcn- 
ffuins.  They  dwelt  there  in  such  immense  numbers, 
that  from  this  circumstance  the  island  was  called 
Piniru'm  hland.  llore  and  his  company  next  visited 
Newfoundland.  Here  curiosity  attracted  some  of 
the  natives  to  visit  the  ship.  The  men  |)ursued 
llnun,  and  found  that  they  retreated  to  a  snmll  island. 
In  continuing  the  pursuit,  the  men  landed,  and  soon 
came  to  a  place  where  cooking  was  in  progress.     A 


t 


w\ 


I*- 


1 


T^^WB" 


GO 


CIVILIZED    CANNIBALS. 


I 


wooden  spit  was  erected,  on  which  a  piece  of  bear's 
flesh  was  roasting.  After  this,  tlie  men  were  accus- 
tomed to  amuse  themselves  by  hunting'  bears  for 
tlieir  own  use.  Sometimes  they  fell  in  with  a  black, 
at  other  times  discovered  a  white  one,  and  in  either 
case  they  gave  chase.  The  flesh  furnished  them  with 
very  palatable  food.  Before  long,  however,  they 
were  reduced  to  great  straits.  The  provisions  which 
they  carried  out  with  them  were  all  consumed. 
Game  could  not  be  obtained.  They  were  obliged 
to  feed  on  roots  and  herbs.  Some  fish,  which  an 
ospray  had  carried  to  her  nest  as  food  for.  her 
young,  furnished  them  with  an  acceptable  meal. 
Their  condition  daily  became  worse.  Famine 
stared  them  in  the  face.  Their  sufterings  were 
intense.  Humanity  revolts  at  the  measures  they 
adopted  to  prolong  life.  The  captain  discovered 
that  the  number  of  his  men  decreased.  Upon  ex- 
amination, he  ascertained  that  they  had  been  mur- 
dered and  eaten  bv  the  others!  One  was  digging 
for  roots  ;  anotiier  came  up  stealthily  behind  and 
suddenly  attacked  him.  After  he  was  slain,  and  the 
murderer  was  cot)king  a  part  of  his  flesh  for  a 
meal,  the  odor  of  it  attracted  one  of  his  compan- 
ions, who,  not  knowing  what  it  was,  with  thn-ats 
and  menaces  declared  he  would  have  a  portion. 
This  led  to  a  disclosure  of  the  horrid  act.  Although 
the  captain    reprimanded  the  men  for  their  cruelty 


PIRACY 


67 


and  cannibalism,  yet  to  such  extremities  were  they 
reduced,  tliat  tl«ey  cast  h)ts  in  order  to  ascertain 
who  should  die  to  furnish  food  for  the  others.  It 
may  well  awaken  astonishment  that  such  revolting 
and  inhunian  measures  should  have  been  resorted  to 
11  a  place  which  abounded  with  fish.  For  thirty 
years  the  French,  Spaniards,  and  Portuguese  had 
been  engaged  in  fishing  on  the  Banks  of  Newfound- 
land. Yet  in  the  very  place  where  they  obtained 
provisions  for  thousands,  these  Englishmen  were 
starving  to  death.  It  seems  equally  surprising  that 
they  were  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  fish  were  abun- 
dant there,  or  that  they  could  contrive  no  means  to 
take  them. 

One  day  a  French  vessel  made  its  appearance. 
The  English,  not  satisfied  with  the  supplies  received 
from  it,  seized  the  ship,  took  possession,  and  Ict't 
their  own  for  the  use  of  the  French  crew.  They 
also  distributed  a  quantity  of  provisions  among 
them,  which  vrere  taken  from  the  French  vessel, 
and  then  set  sail  for  England,  where  they  safely 
arrived.  So  soon  as  the  King  of  the  French  1  card 
of  the  high-handed  piracy,  he  preferred  a  complaint 
against  the  offenders  for  the  seizure  of  the  vessel. 
But  when  the  King  of  England  became  ac(]uainted 
with  the  facts,  he  indemnified  the  French  out  of  his 
own  purse,  and  prevented  the  culprits  from  a  crim- 
inr.i  prosecution. 


V  ■ 

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i\ 

A 

i 

r: 


68 


$  x 


11 


CHAPTER    \ 

Hernando  do  Solo.  —  Ilis  Rravcry  and  Skill.  —  flis  Ilorscmnnship 
before  llie  Inca.  —  The  Inca's  Cruelty. —  Dc  Soto's  Wcalili. — 
Ilis  Appearance  at  Court.  —  Isabella  dc  IJobadilla  a  Rride. — 
Return  of  Nunez.  —  Ills  exciting  Reports.  Mode  of  conduct- 
ing Expeditions  of  Discovery.  —  De  Solo  assumes  all  Ex- 
pense. —  Portuguese  Volunteers.  —  Their  Enthusiasm.  —  Andrew 
de  Vasconselos  and  Followers.  —  Grand  Review.  —  Appearance 
of  ihc  Spaniards.  —  Armor  of  ihe  Portuguese.  —  Second  Re- 
view.—  Humiliating  Contrast.  —  The  Number  of  Adventur- 
ers.—  Conversion  of  the  Indians  desired.  —  Priests  and  Monks. 


O 

ni 
at 
til 
mi 

\v\ 


I 

k 


After  the  uiKsiicces.sriil  termination  of  Hole's 
voyajjfc,  the  Spaniartls  ajiain  enteied  the  lield  ancf 
projected  an  expedition  lor  the  concpiest  of  Florida 
on  an  extensive  scale.  The  expectation.s  of  the 
court  and  peoj)le  of  Spain  were  hiohly  raised  hy  it. 
IIow  those  expectations  were  met  will  he  seen  hy 
the  following  account.  It  was  under  the  direction 
of  Hernando  de  Soto. 

Among  the  early  exj)lorers  of  the  unknown  terri- 
tories of  the  new  world,  none  were  more  distin- 
guished for  jiersontd  qualities,  exalted  r.ank,  and 
splendid  ftutlit  and  retinue  than  this  renowned  cava- 
lier The  history  of  his  hrilliant  expedition  for  the 
con(|uest  of  Florida  is  filled  with  chivalric  and  ro- 
mantic adventure.     As  we  follow  him   and  his  hand 


HISTORICAL    RKCOHDS. 


(\9 


of  enthusiastic  fi)Ilowers  in  tlieir  lonjj  and  tedious 
marcli  tlirouj^li  the  UMtn»ddeii  forests  of  the  south 
and  the  boundless  prairies  of  the  west,  at  some 
times  stnijiTifhng  for  hfe  amid  daii<2;erous  swamjjs 
and  deceitful  everj^lades,  and  at  others  contending 
witli  treacherous  Indians,  as  numerous  and  hK)od- 
thirsty  as  the  torturing  insects  which  were  constantly 
piercing  their  flesh,  we  cannot  but  admire  tl)e  vigi- 
hmce,  the  h)fty  bearing,  the  fearless  bravery,  and  the 
patient,  hopeful  endurance  of  the  noble  Spaniard  ; 
whilst,  at  the  same  time,  we  see  not  a  few  things  in 
his  treatment  of  the  aborigines,  especially  of  the 
chiefs  and  tlie  women,  which  we  cannot  fail  to 
condemn. 

Fortunately  for  the  historian,  records  exist  of  the 
long  and  fatal  wanderinjis  of  tmr  hero  for  the  con- 
quest  of  a  kingdom  supposed  to  be  the  treasui  y  of 
untold  amounts  of  gold,  pearls,  diamonds,  and  other 
articles  of  value.  These  records  enibrace  a  letter  of 
De  Soto  himself  to  the  municipal  authorities  of  St. 
.lago  de  Cuba ;  "  A  Narrative  of  the  Expedition  of 
Hernando  de  Soto,  by  Luis  Hernandez  de  Biedma, 
(factcur  de  sa  majeste,'j  presented  to  the  King  and 
Council  of  the  Indies,  1544;"  "A  Narrative  of  the 
Expedition  of  Hernando  de  Solo  into  Fh»rida,  by  a 
Gentleman  of  Elvas.  Published  at  Evoru,  L>j7. 
Translated  from  the  Portuguese  by  Richard  Hack- 
luyt,  London,  1609."     Those  three  works,  translated 


V 


% 


Sf^ 


I  V'. ! 


70 


niFFERENT    OPINIONS. 


m 


il 


I 


I 


t 


into  English,  are  contained  in  tlie  Historical  Collec- 
tions of  Louisiana.  To  these  must  be  added  a 
fourth,  which  is  a  more  full,  minute,  and  graphic 
account  than  either  or  all  of  the  above  combined. 
It  is  i.i  Spanish,  and  is  entitled  "  The  Florida  of  the 
Inca,  or  the  History  of  the  Adelantado,  Hernando 
de  Soto,  Governor  and  Captain-General  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Florida,  and  of  other  heroic  Cavaliers, 
Spaniards,  and  Indians.  Written  by  the  Inca  Gar- 
cilaso  de  la  Vega."  Bancroft  says  that  the  Inca 
Garcilaso  is  "  very  extravagant  in  his  account ;  " 
*'  numbers  and  distances  are  magnified,  and  every 
thing  embellished  with  the  greatest  boldness.  His 
history  is  not  without  its  value,  but  must  be  consult- 
ed with  extreme  caution."  The  Portuguese  "  Nar- 
rative by  a  Gentleman  of  Elvas,"  who  was  an  eye- 
witness, he  regards  as  "  by  far  the  best  account." 
This  he  generally  follows.  On  the  contrary,  Mr. 
Theodore  Irving,  in  his  "  Conquest  of  Florida,"  ex- 
presses the  opinion  that  the  work  of  the  Inca  has 
not  been  properly  appreciated.  It  was  written  from 
"the  testimony  of  three  eye-witnesses."  It  agrees 
with  the  Portuguese  account  in  the  prominent  facts, 
and  where  it  differs  from  it  as  to  the  plans  and 
vi(!ws  of  De  Soto,  he  gives  the  preference  to  the 
[nca,  because,  being  a  Spaniard,  it  is  more  probable 
that  be  was  admitted  to  the  secret  councils  of  his 
eader  than  one  of   another   nation,   besides   being 


HERNANDO    DE    SOTO. 


7i 


!ree  from  that    luitioiml   jealousy  which   may  have 
tiiijjed  the  account  of  the  Portuguese. 

In  the  condensed  narrative  whicli  we  have  given 
in  the  succeechng  pages,  we  have  not  foUowed  ini- 
pheitly  eitlier  of  the  ahove  authors.  We  have  com- 
pared their  ditterent  accounts  with  each  otiier,  and, 
rejecting  the  extravagant  and  apocryphal,  we  have 
recorded  those  events  only  which  appeared  to  us 
truthful.  Those  who  desire  to  trace  more  minutely 
the  incidents  of  this  chivalric  expedition  will  he  de- 
lighted with  the  charming  work  which  we  have  just 
alhided  to,  hy  Mr.  T.  Irving.  It  has  all  the  interest 
of  a  historical  romance. 

Hernando  de  Soto,  a  descendant  of  nohle  hlood, 
was  horn  ahout  the  year  1500.  The  j)lace  if  his 
hirth  is  enveloped  in  some  ohscnrity.  The  "Gentle- 
man of  Elvas,"  the  author  of  the  Portuguese  narra- 
tive of  the  exi)edition,  says  that  he  was  "  son  of  a 
squire  of  Xeres  of  Badajoz  ; "  hut  the  Inca  Gar- 
cilaso  asserts  that  he  was  horn  in  Villa  Nueva  of  Bar 
carota.  He  followed  the  train  of  Pedro  Arias  to 
the  West  Indies,  where,  hy  the  skilful  use  of  iiis 
sword  and  huckler,  which  were  his  only  reliance,  he 
produced  so  favorahle  an  impression  upon  his  com- 
mander that  he  received  from  him  the  appointment 
of  captain  of  a  troop  of  horse.  He  was  soon  after 
commanded  to  assist  Fernando  Pizarro  in  the  con- 
quest   of    the     rich    province     of    Peru.       In     the 


I 

J-' 

r  i 


73 


SURPRISINO    HORSEMANSHIP. 


sanj^uinary  contests  which  were  there  endured,  De 
Soto,  hy  the  caution,  hravery,  and  power  of  his 
attacks,  surpassed  all  liis  companions  in  arms.  Eye- 
witnesses of  his  cahn,  coura«^eouH,  and  successful 
conduct  amid  tlie  excitiii«jf  scenes  of  dreadful  conflict 
assert,  that  so  great  was  his  skill  in  the  use  of 
weapons,  that  he  was  equal  to  ten  ordinary  men. 
Pi/arro  rewarded  him  for  his  soldier-like  bearinj^ 
with  a  lieutenancy,  and  often  called  upon  him  for 
the  execution  of  orders  which  required  a  rare  com- 
bination of  patient  endurance,  cool  deliberation,  and 
fearless  bravery.  When  sent  as  an  ambassador  to 
the  far-famed  Inca  Atahualpa,  he  exhibited  in  his 
presence  feats  of  horsemanship  of  a  most  surprising 
nature,  lie  made  his  noble  war-horse  run,  gallop, 
suddenly  stop,  then  caracole  oblicpiely,  as  if  dancing 
to  nnisic,  then  dash  oil*,  bounding,  rearing,  and  frisk- 
ir'ji;  like  a  wild  Arabian  steed  amid  the  freedom  of 
the  desert.  Suddenly  wheeling  him,  he  pierced  him 
with  his  spurs,  and  made  him  spring  so  near  the 
ga/ing  Inca  that  the  foam  of  his  snorting  breath 
sprinkled  the  Inca's  tawny  face.  Not  a  muscle 
moved  upon  the  marble  countenance  of  the  imper- 
lurbable  chief,  lie  looked  as  calmly  as  though  from 
his  youth  he  had  been  accustomed  to  similar  feats, 
when  he  had  never  seen  a  horse  before.  Many  of 
his  |ieoj)le,  however,  being  terror-stricken  at  the  ex- 
citing scene,   fled   to   places  of  concealment.     Tim 


DE    SOTO  S    STYLK    OF    LIVING. 


73 


Inca  was  so  enra|^<;(l  at  their  cowardice  that  he  gave 
iininediale  orders  tor  tlieir  execution.  Poor  mail! 
he  soon  after  learned  iliat  ther<!  was  jijord  reason 
for  fearinj^  when  the  strenji^tli  of  tlie  intl  i  '\orse 
was  under  the  ji^uidancc  of  the  intellect  of  man. 
lie  and  his  warriors  were  conquered  hy  an  army  of 
cavalry,  a  portion  of  wiiom  was  connnanded  hy  De 
Soto,  whose  feats  of  harndess  agility  before  him 
had  so  terrified   his  servants. 

When  Hernando  de  Soto  returned  to  his  own 
country,  his  share  of  the  spoils  of  the  new  world 
amounted  to  a  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  ducats. 
He  now  entered  upon  a  style  of  living  in  keepinjy 
with  his  good  tortune  and  noble  descent.  Leaving 
Seville,  he  presented  himself  at  the  court  of  the  Em 
peror  of  Spain  in  great  magnificence,  with  his  stew- 
ard, chamberlain,  gentleman  of  the  horse,  usher, 
pages,  lackeys,  and  all  other  servants  essential  to  the 
fashionable  retinue  of  Spanish  nobility.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  under  these  |>ropitious  circumstances, 
with  so  much  that  was  desirable  in  cliiiracti.'r,  blood, 
and  foriime,  he  made  a  favorjildr'  impression  upon 
the  heart  of  Isabella  de  Bobadilla,  daughter  of  his 
old  commander,  Pedro  Arias,  of  Avila,  and  I'jarl 
of  Puno  en  Rostro.  To  this  voiim"'  ladv  he  was 
shortly  after  united  in  marriage.  11(3  received  from 
the  Emperor  the  appointnuMit  of  (Jovcnior  of  (,'id»a 
»nd  Adelantado,  or  President  of  Florida.     To  these 


{•■^ 


74 


GOLDEN    REPORTS    FROM    FLORIDA. 


11 


oflRces  were  ndded  tlic  title  of  marquis  of  certain 
lands  wliicli  lie  was  expected  to  coinjiie  ■,  extending 
thirty  leagues  in  lenfrtli  by  half  that  in  breadth. 

At  tiie  time  these  offices  W(;re  conferred  uj)oii 
De  Soto,  there  was  a  gentleman  arrived  at  court 
l)rin<?in«»;  intellijijence  of  the  misfortunes  of  Paniphilo 
de  Narvaez.  lie  had  been  with  him  in  his  expedi- 
tion, knew  the  country,  and  hence  was  regarded  as 
an  oracle  upon  every  thing  which  related  to  the 
climate,  productions,  and  inhabitants  of  Florida. 
He  told  much,  but  pretended  that  he  knew  more. 
lie  said  that  Florida  was  the  "  richest  country  in  the 
world,"  and  that  he  had  come  to  Sjjain  that  he  mi<>ht 
be  a|)pointed  its  Governor,  when  he  would  return 
and  take  possession.  The  glowing  accounts  which  he 
gave  inflamed  the  imagination  of  Ilernan<lo  de  Soto. 
The  brave  nobleman  was  anxious  to  try  his  fortunes 
again  in  the  way  of  conquest.  lie  had  fre<juent 
interviews  with  this  returned  messenger,  who  was 
no  other  than  Alvaro  Nunez,  whose  adventures  we 
gave  in  the  last  chapter.  He  entered  into  a  kind 
of  partnership  with  him  witli  reference  to  the  con- 
({uest  of  these  new  territories,  which  were  supposed 
to  abound  with  all  sorts  of  riches  and  luxuries.  This 
partnership  was  of  short  duration.  Alvaro  desired 
the  government  for  himself,  and  was  unwilling  to  be 
subordinate  to  another.  As  it  had  been  conferred 
upon    De    Soto,    Alvaro    was    pacified    with    the 


DE    SOTO*S    KNTHISIASM. 


75 


',! 


Bppointmrnt  of  (lovrrnor  <»f  tlie  Hivnr  of  Plate. 
Altlioii;r||  tliore  liacl  been  nii  attempt  to  conceal  froin 
the  public  the  most  favorahN;  faits  which  iXmicz 
could  state,  yet  enoiif^h  had  leaked  out  to  create  a 
deep  excitement  amoii«(  the  visitors  at  court.  It  was 
not  long  before  all  was  made  public,  and  then  the 
whole  nation  partook  of  the  excitement. 

It  was  not  unusual,  in  those  periods  of  early  ad- 
venture, for  the  difterent  governments  of  Europe  to 
assume  the  expense  of  the  maritime  enterprises  of 
their  respective  subjects.  Sometimes  societies  or 
corporations  were  formed  for  the  express  purpose 
of  geographical  discovery  or  for  the  settlement  of 
now  countries.  In  that  case  the  pecuniary  resj)on- 
sibility  of  such  undertakings  devolved  upon  them. 
But  Hernando  de  Soto  asked  no  favors  of  that  kind. 
Such  was  his  characteristic  enthusiasm,  and  so  strong 
was  his  faith  in  the  existence  of  countless  wealth  in 
the  new  regions,  that  all  the  privilege  he  desired  of 
the  Emperor  was,  that  he  might  enter  upon  the  con- 
quest of  Florida  at  his  own  expense.  The  Emperor 
cheerfully  complied  with  his  request.  So  soon  as 
De  Soto's  intentions  were  known,  officers,  soldiers, 
nt)bles,  men  of  wealth  and  influence,  were  not  onl^ 
willing,  but  extremely  anxious,  to  accouipany  him. 
Gentlemen  from  Portuira'  wrote  to  him  to  know 
whether  they  would  be  received  among  his  followers. 
He  sent  them  an  affirmative  answer.     In  order  to 


^  i 


P 


*" . 


It      < 


(G 


THE    SPAMAHDS   OITTDOPO!:. 


fiirnisli  tlioinsolves  with  a  iMTcuniiijr  outfit,  men  sold 
tli(?ir  lioii.M's,  tlu'ir  viiuiynnls,  gardens,  rents,  and 
whatever  else  they  coiihl  eonvert  into  money.  So 
great  was  tlie  nuiiiher  who  desired  to  enter  upon 
tliis  adventurous  expecUtion  tliat  tlie  vessels  were  not 
sutficieat  to  carry  them,  and  n»any  were  obliged, 
very  reluetantly,  to  remain  behind.  A  company  of 
Portuguese  came  from  Elvas,  under  the  command 
of  Andr(!W  de  Vasconcelos.  They  were  courteously 
received  by  De  Soto,  and  admitted  among  his  fol- 
lowers. The  Governor  ordered  a  grand  military 
parade,  on  which  occasion  tijc  Spaniards  appeared 
nM>st  gaudily  attired  in  showy  costume,  "  with  silk 
upon  silk  and  many  pinkings  and  cuts,"  but  the 
Portuguese  presented  theniselves  encased  in  heavy, 
though  highly-polished  armor,  as  if  prepared  for 
battle.  De  Soto  was  chagrined  at  this  ill-timed 
vanity  of  his  countrymen.  Another  parade  was 
orderetl,  when  all  were  commanded  to  appear  in 
armor.  When  the  day  arrived,  the  contrast  be- 
tween the  soldiers  of  the  two  nations  was  as  great 
as  on  the  former  occasion,  though  it  was  of  a  differ- 
ent nature.  The  splendid  silks  of  the  Spaniards 
had  given  place  to  miserable  shirts  of  rusty  "mail, 
old  helmets,  steel  caps,  and  poor  lances,  which  pre- 
sented a  humiliating  contrast  with  the  brilliant  and 
perfect  armor  of  the  Portuguese.  De  Soto  reviewed 
the  whole,  and  accepted  of  those  who  appeared  to 
l>o  suitably  fitted  for  the  enterprise. 


ECCLESIASTICS. 


77 


Tdc  Nvli(»l<^  ('on)|Kiiiy,  ii('C()r<Iiii<jf  to  the  Poitngueso 
nfcoiiiit,  ninoiiiited  to  six  luiiulrccl  ;  accordiii!?  to  the 
I  Ilea  (iaiciliiso,  who  is  prohahly  more  correct,  it 
was  nine  liuiuir(;c]  and  fifty.  Beinjjf  Catholics,  tliey 
were  (h'sirous  that  the  enterprise  shouhl  assist  in  the 
I'xlension  of  the  interests  of  tlieir  Holy  Mother 
Chureii.  The  conversion  of  the  heathen  natives  of 
the  new  countries  was  to  them  an  important  ohject. 
Hcsides,  it  was  reiusonahle  t(  suppose  that  many  of 
them  wouhl  sicken  and  die  under  the  oppressively 
warm  chmate  of  Florida,  wlien  they  wouhl  need  the 
last  oflices  which  the  church  could  hestow.  They 
therefore  took  with  them  twelve  priests,  eight  subor 
dinate  clerirvmen,  and  four  monks. 


7« 


m. 
1--1 


CHAPiER    VI. 

TTic  npparliirc.  —  Canary  Ty':.ii<l.s.  —  IMfrrimont  — Tbe  hcaii  iliil 
l-eononi.  —  Arrival  at  Cuba.  —  Spanish  Aniiisomniils. —  An  Ul- 
llccr  rashicrod. —  An  important  V oliintCH-r.  —  .Inan  de  Aiia^ro.  — 
(iocs  in  search  of  a  llarltor.  —  His  Advcntnrcs.  —  The  liainl. — 
First  Haltlf.  —  I'orcalio's  Exploit.  —  An  imposing  Scene. —  li.- 
roiivcnicnccs.  —  (Juides  desert.  —  Native  I  louses.  —  Itevengc.  — 
I'xpiorint;'  I'arlies. —  Hear  of  a  S|>aniard.  —  Juan  Oitiz.  —  A 
bappy  .>feetin;i^.  —  The  deft  Slick.  —  Sfi;uiisli  Captives.  —  'I'lniir 
Tortures.  —  l-'emale  Kindness.  —  Juan's  StitVcrinj^s.  —  A  liot 
Bed.  —  Miilni^^'ht  l^nconnti>r  in  a  (Jravexard.  —  Juan  doomed 
a  Sacrilii  0. —  Feriale  lulbrmer.  —  A  Wile  lost  for  Kindness' 
Sake. 


In  tlie  month  of  April,  lo^i*^,  on  a  SiiiKlii^',  known 


ns    St.   Ljjziir 


ll.-i  s 


I); 


'J' 


tl 


IKS    MDlCiU 


did 


iirnwnnt^nt  set 


sjiil  from  St.  Lnciir,  iiniid  tlic;  sointdini*"  of  trinn- 
jH^'t.s  nnd  the  thunder  of  nrtilleiy.  Tliey  were  dis- 
trihuted  in  ten  ve.~i.sels,  the  hir<i;e.st  of  which,  ntnned 
tlie  Sim  Chri.stovid,  contained  the  (iovernor,  ller 
nando  do  Soto,  liis  wife  Isahelhi  do  Bohtidilhi,  iiiid 
tlieir  suite.  Alter  the  comparjitively  h)ni^  passaue 
of  liftoen  days,  owiiij;  to  (k'lid  ctthiis,  they  arrivetl  tit 
one  of  the  (.^tinttry  Lshuids.  It  heini;'  liastor  Day. 
the  (Iovernor  of  the  island  was  arrayed  "  tdl  in 
V'hite,  —  cloak,  jerkin,  hose,  shoes,  and  cap,  —  so 
t!iat  he  seemed  a  lord  of  the  j;^ypsies."  lie  ^Jive 
Do  Soto  and  his  ctMnpanittns  tin  lumorahle  reception. 


the 
The 


LANDINTi    OF    DK    SOTO. 


79 


« 


A  week  was  Iiorc  spent  in  joyous  juerrhiu'iit 
mid  fe.'istings.  Among  several  natural  (laii«j;ht<M\s  of 
the  Governor  of  the  island  was  one  of  extr<Mne 
heauty,  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  De  Soto 
became  so  deeply  interested  in  this  fascinating 
Spanish  damsel,  that  he  was  desirous  of  securing 
her  as  a  gem  to  shine  in  the  train  o-  I  is  beloved 
wife,  Isabella.  lie  asked  the  Goviirnor's  consent  to 
ado|)t  her  into  his  own  family,  holding  out  as  an 
inducement  the  prospect  of  an  honorable  connec- 
tion with  some  rich  and  brave  cavalier  of  his 
court.  His  consent  was  obtained,  and  tlu;  beauti- 
ful Leonora  de  Bobadilla  became  the  companion 
of  Isabella. 

On  the  succeeding  Sabbath  they  left  the  Canaries 
for  St.  .Tago,  situated  at  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  where  they  arrived  about  the  end 
of  May.  As  De  Soto  had  been  a|)p()inted  Govt'rnor 
of  this  island,  his  arrival  with  so  brilliant  a  retinue 
was  welcomed  with  ''vgi  '  demonstrati\on  of  joy.  A 
n(»ble  horse  for  birr.^eif,  and  a  gentle  mule  fu'  his 
fair  Isabella,  were  v/aiting  to  receive  them  at  the 
landing;  when  they  were  escorted  by  the  most  dis 
tiiiguislwd  inhabitants  of  the  island  to  their  apart 
meats.  Those  of  the  company  who  went  on  shore 
A'ere  entertained  in  parties  of  six  and  eight  among 
the  diftercnt  farmers  and  planters  on  the  island. 
Their  en)ployment  whilst  \iere  was  divided  between 


I 


:.i 


^■Hl 


80 


AN  IMPORTANT  VOLUNTEER. 


r  J. 
I. 


races,  bull  fij^hts,  contests  of  skill  and  strength,  and 
feats  of  various  other  kinds  by  day,  and  balls  and 
masquerades  by  night.  In  the  contests  of  horse- 
manship no  one  excelled  the  gallant  INuno  de  Tobar, 
the  lieutenant-general.  He  bore  away  more  prizes 
than  any  other  cavalier.  This  gentleman  had 
formed  a  secret  attachment  to  Leoncua  de  Boba- 
dilla,  which  continued  until  it  had  assumed  a  crim- 
inal character.  Upon  the  discovery  of  this  dis- 
graceful aflair,  De  Soto  was  greatly  emaged,  M»d 
innnediately  deposed  the  lieutenant-general  from 
office.  Although  the  cashiered  officer  made  the 
only  reparation  in  his  power  by  marrying  the  lady 
whom  he  had  injured,  yet  he  never  regained  the 
confidence  of  his  commander. 

Whilst  at  St.  Jago,  De  Soto  received  a  visit  from 
a  cavalier  of  Trinidad,  named  Porcallo  de  Figueroa. 
He  had  been  in  various  wars,  seen  much  severe 
fighting,  and  was  now  living  in  opulence,  enjoying 
the  results  of  his  hard-fought  victories.  Whilst 
mingling  with  De  Soto  and  his  followers,  listening 
to  the  accounts  vvhicii  they  gave  of  the  riches  of  the 
new  El  Dorado  they  were  about  to  conquer,  the 
spirit  of  the  old  soldier  was  stirred,  and  he  resolved 
to  share  his  fortunes  with  them.  His  proposal  was 
accepted  by  De  Soto,  who  appointed  him  to  the 
post  of  lieutenant-general,  from  which  Nuno  do 
Tubur   had   been   rejected.     Porcallo    entered  into 


HARBOR- HUNT  I  NO. 


81 


the  object  witli  great  spirit  and  lilxTality.  He  cow- 
tribiited  largely  of  his  wealth,  and  gave  to  ditVerem 
cavaliers  fifty  iiorses,  besidc^s  taking  thirty-six  for  his 
f»\vn  use.  lie  was  followed  by  a  large  band  of 
relaincrs. 

In  order  that  no  time  might  be  lost  npon  their 
arrival  in  Florida  in  seeking  a  stiitable  place  for 
landing,  De  Soto  sent  Juan  de  Anat-ico  v  ith  orders 
io  find  a  harbor  having  a  safe  anchorage  for  the 
ships,  and  a  convenient  place  fi)r  disembarking  the 
troopj.  lie  made  two  voyages  for  that  purpose. 
The  second  time  he  was  gone  so  long  that  fears  of 
his  being  lost  bv^giin  to  be  seriously  entertained. 
But  after  the  lapse  of  *hree  months  from  the  time 
ot  his  departure,  his  vessel  reentered  the  port  of 
Havana.  So  soon  as  they  reached  the  shore,  the 
captain  and  all  his  crew  fell  upon  their  knees  and 
waddled  to  the  church,  in  execution  of  a  vow  which 
they  had  niade  in  an  hour  of  extreme  danger. 
After  devoutly  listening  to  the  imposing  service  of 
mass,  they  related  the  reason  of  their  long  absence. 
They  had  experienced  heavy  weather,  came  near 
foundering  at  sea,  and  at  one  time  had  passed  two 
months  upon  a  desolate  islaiul,  where  they  kept 
themselves  from  starving  by  picking  up  shells 
along  the  beach,  and  occasionally  catcdiing  a 
wild   fowl. 

Juan,  however,   had  accomplished   the   object  of 


r 


0-' 


82 


DE    SOTO    SAILh    FROM    HAVANA. 


■*. 

\  ^ 
I,,  'i 


his  oxpcditioi)  in  tlic  discovery  of  a  harbor  possess- 
in*^  nil  the  requisite  quahties.  In  addition  to  this, 
he  liad  also  brought  with  him  four  of  the  alw 
orii»ines,  whom  he  liad  kidna|)p(d,  witii  the  inten- 
tion of  usinjjr  them  as  guides  when  he  returned, 
and,  by  teaching  them  Spanisii,  to  (pialify  ihem  for 
interpreters. 

Prepar.atory  to  Ins  departure,  De  S«»to  appointed 
his  wife  Isabella  to  the  government  of  the  Island  o** 
(Juba,  with  .luan  de  lloxas,  the  next  in  coirnnand, 
and  Francisco  de  (lU/nian  as  lieuteniuit  of  St.  .lago. 
With  Isabella  remained  the  wives  of  Don  ('arlos,  of 
Balta/ar  de  Gallegos,  and  the  beautiful  Leonora, 
wife  of  Nuno  de  Tobar. 

All  things  being  finally  arranged,  on  Stmday, 
the  18th  of  May,  15IK),  Hernaiuh;  de  Soto,  with 
his  comi)any  of  enthusiastic  f«)ll()wers,  set  sail  from 
Havana  in  nine  or  ten  vessels.  After  a  passage 
of  seven  days  they  arrived  at  a  broad,  d«!ep  bay 
which  scollops  the  western  shore  of  East  Florida. 
The  da}'  of  their  arrival  being  Whii-sunday,  com- 
rnemorative  of  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon 
the  day  of  Pentewost,  Do  Soto  called  the  place  the 
Bay  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  {^pinto  Santo.\  Its  pres- 
ent name  is  Tamj)a  Bay. 

On  the  30th  of  the  month,  the  company  landed. 
\  party  of  three  hundred  soldiers  were  first  sent  '>n 
shore,  ti  take  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name 


nK    S()T(t    LANDS     IN     FLOUIDA. 


of  the  Spaiiisli  EiMi)crt)r,  Cliarirs  V.     As  no  liidiinis 
\v<Me  ill  sij^lit,  tlif  soldiers  did  not   ronsider  it  neccs- 


L;ui(iin)»  ii{  Mr  Si. in  in   I'liiil.i. 


a-' 


swvy  to  k(M'|),  duriiii^  the  ni<iht,  a  \v\\  strict  \\;itch. 
Thev  were  punished  for  tlieir  eari.'Iessness.  'I'ouar  Is 
morninir,  a  hiriio  l)an(l  of"  sava;^e8  suddenly  dashed 
in  anion<^  them,  rcMuhn^  ihe  air  with  their  horrid 
war-whoops,  and  pourin^r  upon  the  unsuspeetini;' 
Spaniards  a  sliower  of  arrows.  Aroused  so  sud- 
denly from  their  (piiet  ^lumhers,  tlie  territied  troops 
sprimjj  to  tlnir  lert,  and  fmdin^  tluunselves  attacked 
by  such  a  va.>-i  nuinU'r  ol  the  enemy,  commenced  u 
confused    retreat   to    tiie    sea.     The    sound   of    iiie 


\r< 


64 


J''- -non  l„.n,od,o  bell"         ■"''"''"'  "'"''•'"•''""• 

■^I'-re,  umlor  tl,„  c..,„,„.     ,    T  '"  ""J'  '"  '!'« 

'""k  "-  l«..l  wi,l.  ,11  """""■"•     ''""""" 

« Inch  he  w,„  a  .,.-„„„«,  °t,  ,  "^  »  P"«""'  to 
""cI  Porcallo  ret„nL'  .,•  , ,  ,  •"""  ''"'•"  '""'"'. 
«-'   'li^«plar  .,f  ,     ,     '  '""''''   *««'"«'   -itl.    „,i, 

"'"  animal.     I,  „•„  ;„  ,  "^"  ""=  >•»'»  "f 

"'"■•"    "   fell   <|..,-.,|.     p,,,,. ,,,       ,    ''•"■''  "'«■'  <"'".,,, 
«•»■"   «'.e    pro...a,e    ..,,.,,  ''TT'    ''''•"'^" 

'■""-  -"•  '-in,  ..a,,„,        ";,;■;"    ^""-•<'    in    .l,e 

^  '>e  reiiiaiiuler  of  flm  ,.  ^''"'vts. 

'-■"^'  .-"".at  a  „ ;;'"'"^.-»"  after  la„,,e.l, 

-"■"-..-.reel '>:^^'z::'""""""'""" 

'■""'-•   -."r,  inspired    r„eV"""T     "  ""»  » 

•  •  "'»'  'I'o    de.,re  f„r  reno«„. 


BRILLIANT    PAGEANT. 


8f 


»j 


They  presontcd  an  imposing  appearance  as  tlnv 
wound  tlieir  way,  in  their  sliowy  costunie  and  pol- 
ished armor,  over  the  plains  and  tlirough  th(!   IcMiir, 


)f   th 


)rld.      Fhished   with   th 


dim   torests 

d{!.sire  of  conquest,  huoyant  witli  hope,  and  fciirh/.-s 
of  their  enenues,  they  marched  clieerfully  onward 
in  the  track  of  their  leader,  who,  tliey  hail  no 
douht,  Vf'ould  conduct  them  to  glory  and  to  wealth. 
We  nuist  not  suppose,  however,  tliat  their  advance 
into  these  unknown  rei;ions  was  conducted  with  the 
precise  regularity  of  military  order.  This  was  im- 
possihle.  In  addition  to  the  inconvenience  of  find- 
ing no  roads,  it  must  he  rememhered  that  a  part  of 
the  company  were  on  foot  and  a  part  n.oimted. 
Large  (juantities  ci'  luggage  had  to  he  carried,  a 
piece  of  ordnance  drawn,  and,  wiiat  was  worse  than 
all  ti»e  rest,  there  were  three  hundred  slow-moving, 
stuohorn,  provoking  swine  to  be  driven  tiirough  the 
forests  and  swamps  which  impeded  their  course. 

De  Soto  divided  his  little  army  into  six  compa- 
nies, four  of  horsemen  and  two  of  footmen,  and  aj>- 
pointed  over  each  a  captain.  Two  of  the  natives, 
whom  Jimn  de  Anasco  had  kidnapped  and  taken 
with  him  to  Havana,  to  qualify  them  to  hecome  in- 
terpreters, returned  with  the  company  to  their  own 
land.  De  Soto  expected  to  derive  from  them  nnich 
assistance.  He  was  disappointed.  The  Indiana 
loved    tlieir   liherty  too    well  to    remain   volunturiljr 


5^ 


I 


80 


DESKRTKRS. 


Huhject  to  tliosc  u'ho,  in  nn  uiif<'(!lin«^  nuMuirr,  had 
stolen  tliein  from  tlieir  own  lionios.  I'pon  tlio  first 
favorable  opportunity  tliey  made  their  escape ;  they 

otection 


.ly 


ay 


I> 


of  the  darkness  of  ni<^ht. 

The  first  Indian  villajj^e  which  the  army  reached 
was  csdied  Ucita.  It  consistcti  ol'  a  few  thatched 
houses,  one  of  which  occupied  a  connnandin<r  posi 
tion  on  the  summit  of  an  artificial  mouuii.  It  had 
the  appearance  of  answering  the  liouhle  jnnpose 
of  a  residence  and  a  fort.  De  Soto  made  it  his 
hoad-(Hiarters  while  there.  Another  huildintr  in 
the  villa<je  rcsendiled  a  temple.  It  was  ornamented 
on  top  with  the  rude  representation  of  a  hird, 
carved   out   of  wcmxI,  with    <;olden   eyes. 

The  caci(]U(?  or  chief  of  this  villaj^e,  with  ;dl  his 
follow<!rs,  had  fled.  Their  empty  dwellinjrs  were 
soon  occJipied  hy  the  troops.  Uidortunately  for 
I)e  Soto,  this  chief  had  been  insulted  and  wronged 
hy  Pamphilo  de  Narvae/,  in  his  wanderings  here. 
The  indignities  which  he  had  received  called  for  re- 
venge. The  caci(]ue  was  determined  to  retaliate. 
lie  tlun'efore  woulil  have  no  intercourse  with  De 
Soto.  He  contemptuously  spurned  all  his  proHcrs 
of  friendship.  He  was  angry  with  his  peoj)le  who 
brought  De  Soto's  messages  to  liim.  He  declared 
tjjat  he  would  not  hear  the  promises  of  the  Span- 
iards, but  would  rejoice  to  receive  their  heads. 


A    SINT.ri.AU    MKKTINO. 


97 


De  Soto  sent  out  expeditions  in  ditVerent  direc- 
tions, to  oxplrne  the  country,  and  cMjjtnro  tlio  na- 
tives, some  of  wliicli  were  successful  in  tnkiuir  the 
poor  Indians  prisoners.  The  (iovernor,  liaviii}]^ 
learned  that  a  Spaniard  was  hvinjjj  aniou'r  a  trih(!  of 
[ndians,  the  chief  of  wlioni  was  named  ."M(tc(!<^o,  he 
became  desirous  to  have  an  interview  with  him, 
learn  liis  liistory,  and,  if  possihh',  to  attach  him  to 
his  cause.  He  ordered  Haha/.ar  d<!  (talh'ijos  to 
take  a  company  of  sixty  men,  ijo  f>n  an  end)assy  to 
Mocosf),  l)rin<r  hack,  if  possil)le,  this  ca|)tive  Span- 
iard, and  form  a  friendly  h'aj^ue  witli  the  chief. 
Halta/.ar,  with  his  brave  hincers,  departed  in  high 
s))irits  on  tliis  honorable  and  humane  expedition. 

About  the  same  time  that  De  Soto  received  news 
of  this  captive  S|)aniard,  Mocoso  obtained  intelli- 
gence of  De  Soto's  landinij^  to  etVect  the  conquest 
of  the  country.  lie  theref(»re  deputed  the  captive 
Spaniard,  whose  name  was  .Tuan  Ortiz,  to  visit  the 
newly-arrived  emijiiants.  Baltazar,  with  his  sixty 
cavaliers,  soon  met  a  band  of  natives,  and  ciiarjj^ed 
furiously  upon  them.  One  of  them,  in  chasiiiir  an 
Indian  who  seemed  somewhat  more  bold  than  the 
rest,  was  surprised  to  see  him  make,  in  a  significant 
manner,  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  cry  otit  "  Seville! 
Seville  ! "  As  the  soldier  ap[)roached  the  fiigitive, 
and  was  about  to  pin  him  to  the  earth  with  his 
lance,  the   poor  fellow  exclaimed,   "  I   am  a  Chris- 


4 


#'  J 


*"!!£* 


I 


88 


THE    CLEFT    STICK    AND    LETTER. 


tian  ;  spare  me,  And  slay  not  these  Indians,  for  tliey 
have  saved  my  hfe."  It  was  Juan  Ortiz  himself! 
The  two  deputations  had  fortunately  met  on  their 
way  to  each  other's  chiefs.  As  soon  as  Juun  was 
made  acquainted  with  their  ohject,  and  revealed 
himself  to  them,  he  called  to  his  Indian  companions, 
who  had  fled  to  the  woods,  to  come  out  and  deliver 
themselves  up,  and  no  evil  would  befall  them,  as  thoe 
stran<r<n's  were  his  countrymen.  They  c(»mplird. 
Kaeh  Spaniard  then  took  one  of  them  on  horsehack 
hehind  him,  and  returned  to  the  Governor.  De  Soto 
welcomed  Ortiz  with  great  joy.  Having  iieen 
among  the  Indians  for  ten  years,  he  had  become 
accpuiinted  with  their  language,  their  customs,  and 
their  country.  He  was  therefore  competent  to  he 
on  interpreter,  a  guide,  and  a  counsellor.  It  was 
extremely  fortunate  for  De  Soto  that  he  met  with 
Ortiz  so  early  in  the  expedition,  especially  as  his 
other  interpreters  had  fled. 

Juan  Ortiz  was  a  native  of  Seville,  a  town  in  the 
southern  part  of  Spjun.  lie  visited  Florida  with 
Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  and  returned  to  Cuba,  where 
the  wife  of  Narvaez  remained.  From  there  he  was 
ordered  back  to  I'lorida,  with  twenty  or  thirty  oth- 
ers. As  they  aj)proaclied  the  shore,  they  saw  a 
cane  sticking  in  the  ground,  s])lit  at  the  top,  and 
.'i  hitter  in  the  cleft.  Supposing  it  to  have  been 
left  by  Narvaez,  they  asked  tie  Indians  to  bring  it 


LIVING    TARGETS. 


99 


to  tlietn.  Tlicy  tlocliiird,  hut  told  tlir  Spaniards  t<» 
come  ashore  and  }jet  it.  To  assure  tlieiii  of  kind 
treatment,  several  Indians  went  on  hoard  the  vessel, 
:is  hostajrcs  for  any  wlio  mij^lit  f^o  ashore  for  the 
lett(.'r.  Three  or  four  of  the  hravest  Spaniards  vol- 
unt('er<;d  upon  the  perilous  enterprise,  of  whom 
.liian  Ortiz  was  one.  So  soon  as  the  Spaniards 
landed,  a  lari::e  nundier  of  the  natives  ruslM!d  upon 
them,  s<M/.«'d  them,  and  carried  them  to  a  place  of 
secMuity.  At  the  same  time,  the  hostajjfcs  on  hoard 
the  vessel  plmii^ed  into  the  water  and  swam  to  the 
shore.  The  crew,  either  throu<ih  cowardice  or  pru- 
dence,—  it  i>i  dilhcult  to  tell  which,  —  innnc(liat<'ly 
sailed  away,  without  n)aking  any  effort  to  rescue 
their  unfortunate  comrades.  Tiie  captives  were  led 
to  the  chief  of  Ucita,  hy  whose  orders  several  of 
them  suflen'd  a  cruel  death.  They  were  deprived 
of  their  clothinj^,  and  then  used  as  a  tarjjet  hy  the 
Indians.  The  savages  did  not  fire  at  them  sinndta- 
ncously,  but  one  at  a  time.  The  poor  sulVerers  ran 
in  difterent  directions  around  the  wcll-jruardcd 
square,  to  escape  the  aim  of  their  tormentors,  hut 
they  every  where  met  a  barbed  arrow,  until  frcun 
pain  and  exhaustion  they  fell  to  rise  no  more.  Ortiz 
was  spared  througli  the  intercessions  of  the  wife  and 
the  daughters  of  the  chief.  He  was  treated,  how- 
ever, with  the  greatest  severity.  He  was  to  the  In- 
dians what  the  Gibeonites  were  to  the  Jews,  "  a 
8* 


^^1 


r 


ft"-* 


// 


^  .:* 


<'  C^ 


/^ 


i/j 


(/. 


i 


90 


STORY    OF    JUAN    ORTIZ. 


T*"* 


hewer  of  wood  and  drawer  of  water."  He  was 
kept  almost  starved,  was  daily  beaten,  and  on  public 
occasions  lie  was  given  up  to  the  Indians,  to  be  tor- 
tured for  their  amusement.  At  one  time  the  sava«re 
chief  placed  him  over  a  bed  of  glowing  coals,  with 
the  intention  of  roasting  him  to  death.  The  ter- 
rific screams  of  the  helpless  victim  drew  forth 
the  intercessions  of  the  wife  and  daughter  of  the 
cacicjue,  through  whose  entreaties  he  was  again 
spared,  lie  carried  tlie  scars  of  his  burns  to  the 
grave. 

As  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  in  consequence  of 
being  but  slightly  covered,  were  sometimes  dug 
from  their  graves  by  the  wild  beasts,  Ortiz  was 
appointed  to  guard  the  Indian  cemetery.  This, 
though  a  repulsive  service,  was  far  preferable  to  his 
previous  condition  among  them.  He  was  to  keep 
watch  the  whole  twenty-four  hours,  and  in  case  he 
allowed  any  corpse  to  be  carried  off,  he  was  doomed 
to  die.  One  night  a  grave  was  oj)ened,  and  the 
corpse  of  a  child  was  carried  off  by  a  wild  beast. 
Ortiz  quickly  discovered  the  fact,  and  went  in  pur- 
suit. He  soon  came  upon  the  robber,  and  fired  at 
him.  Not  knowing  whether  his  arrow  had  produced 
fatal  effects  or  not,  he  waited  till  morning,  when,  to 
his  great  joy,  he  found  the  animal  dead  and  the 
remains  of  the  child  near  him.  He  replaced  the 
stolen  corpse  in  the  grave,  and  then  drew  tlie  dead 


STORY    OF    JUAN    ORTIZ. 


91 


body  of  the  victim  into  the  town.  The  favorable 
impression  which  was  produced  by  this  acliievement, 
jpon  tlie  mind  of  the  cacique,  was  of  short  dila- 
tion. He  soon  after  determined  to  offer  .Tuan  in  sac- 
rifice to  the  devil.  The  daujrhter  of  the  cacique 
informed  .Tuan  of  liis  danger,  and  advised  him  to  flee 
to  Mocoso,  a  neighboring  chief,  who  would  no  doubt 
receive  him  under  his  protection.  Slie  also  pro- 
vided him,  unknown  to  her  father,  with  a  faithful 
guide  to  conduct  him  a  considerable  distance  on  his 
way.  He  followed  her  friendly  advice.  After  his 
guide  had  left  him,  so  that,  by  his  return  before  day 
he  might  excite  no  suspicion  of  having  assisted  in 
his  flight,  Juan  discovered  a  couple  of  Mocoso's  In- 
dians. With  some  difficulty  he  made  them  under- 
stand that  he  was  a  friend.  They  then  conducted 
him  to  their  chief,  who  received  him  with  great  favor. 
The  young  squaw  who  had  revealed  to  Ortiz  the 
murderous  intention  of  her  father,  was  betrothed  in 
marriajje  to  Mocoso.  When  Mocoso  ascertained 
that  it  was  she  who  had  sent  the  Spaniard  to  him 
for  protection,  he  treated  Ortiz  kindly  for  her  sake. 
But  afterwards,  when  he  had  become  better  ac- 
quainted with  him,  he  cherished  for  him  a  sincere 
and  lasting  friendship.  Although  his  former  master 
made  repeated  demands  for  his  surrendei,  Mocoso 
steadily  refused  to  deliver  him,  although  by  his  re- 
fusal he  greatly  offended  the  cacique,  and  forfeited 


#    ' 

0     \ 

t\ 

<  i 

0^4 

^^'* 

^ 

^J 

^'-    t 

*■' 

fe 

,.    i 

8-1 

.^* 

£^ 

^*. 

^yi 

JM2 


GRATIFYING    RESULTS. 


Ills  claims  to  her,  wh(3in   lie   iiitentled  to  have  made 
his  hride. 

Alter  tho  meetinj^  of  Juan  with  the  Spaniards, 
he  inimedii  tely  sent  a  messenger  to  Mocoso,  to 
communicate  to  him  the  gratifying  results  cf  .he 
expedition. 


93 


CHAPTER    VII. 


The  Vessels  return. -^  Urribarractxi.  —  Treacherous  Guides  — 
Treatment  of  the  Dead. —  An  Indian  Freak.  —  A  Sagarioii. 
Hound.  —  Its  End.  —  A  villanous  Plot. —  The  Counterplot.  — 
Deceitful  Review.  —  Dreadful  Conllict.  —  Warriors  in  \ie 
Water.  —  A  second  Plot.  —  A  fearful  Struggle.  —  A  dcsperrile 
Captive.  —  A  narrow  Escape.  —  Indians  compiellcd  to  mas- 
sacre. —  Its  Object.  —  A  dillicult  March.  —  Power  of  the  Bovv.  — 
Towns  abandoned.  —  The  Reason. 

A  FEW  dtiys  after  Juan  Ortiz  had  been  found, 
Mocoso  visited  the  Spaniards.  He  was  so  higlily 
pleased  with  his  courteous  reception  and  hospitable 
entertainment,  that  he  tarried  with  them  more  than 
a  week.  His  visits  were  fre(iucntly  repeated,  on 
which  occasions  he  was  accustomed  to  bring  to  De 
Soto  various  kinds  of  presents. 

After  all  the  men,  horses,  swine,  provisions,  and 
other  articles  intended  for  the  expedition  had  been 
landed,  the  Governor,  De  Soto,  ordered  the  vessels 
to  return  to  Cuba.  He  appointed  Pedro  Calderoii, 
with  a  company  of  thirty  horsemen  and  seventy 
footmen,  to  remain  at  the  place  of  landing.  He  up- 
propriated  for  their  use  sufficient  stores  to  last  them 
two  years.  Bidding  Calderon  farewell,  De  Soto, 
with  his  band  of  hardy  adventurers,  pushed  into  the 
wild  and   unexplored   territories   of   Florida,   "  not 


i 

*     i 
i 


#" 
•»>=* 


,         1 


go* 


0    , 
h 

r 

■10 


94 


TREACHEROUS    GUIDES. 


m- 


lili 


m 


ill!: 


knowin?  the  thiiiu-s  tliat  would  befall  him "  t>it;re. 
Ili.s  first  st()|)|)iiig-})lac'e  was  at  an  Indian  town,  the 
name  of  who.se  chief  was  Uiribarracaxi.  As  this 
chief  desired  to  hold  no  communication  with  tl;e 
Spaniards,  he  had  fled  for  concealment  into  the 
depths  of  the  forest.  All  efforts  to  draw  him  into  a 
})arley  were  unsuccessful.  The  march  of  the  army 
was  now  impeded  by  deep  morasses  and  a  large  im- 
passable swamp.  A  number  of  days  were  spent  in 
endeavors  to  find  a  j)luce  to  cross.  Great  annoy- 
ance was  experienced  from  the  natives,  who,  accord- 
ing to  their  custom,  concealed  themselves  along  the 
route  of  the  Spaniards,  and  sent  among  them,  from 
behind  rocks  and  trees,  their  fatal  shafts.  When  a 
favorable  o])portunity  offered,  they  would  make  a 
sally  upon  the  unguarded  stragglers  of  the  army, 
and  then  a  skirmish  would  ensue  between  theru. 
In  this  way  some  of  the  Indians  were  slain,  and 
others  captured.  De  Soto  used  the  captives  for 
guides.  They  proved  unfaithful  ;  for  they  led  the 
Spaniards  into  ambuscades,  M'here  they  were  fired 
u[)on  by  the  Indians  and  numbers  slain.  The  Span- 
iards became  indignant,  and  set  their  dogs  upon 
them,  who  killed  several  of  these  treacherous  con- 
ductors. Tht'y  finally  succeeded,  through  the  as- 
sistance of  one  who  feared  to  betray  them,  in  reach- 
ing a  rude  bridge,  made  of  the  trunks  of  trees, 
over    which,  with    considerable    peril,    they   finally 


\.      ,  !l! 


CAUTIOUS    CHIEFS. 


96 


passed  in  safety.  They  then  entered  the  territory 
of  a  chief  named  Acncra.  He,  like  I  rriharraeaxi, 
would  form  no  alUanee  with  tliem.  lie  treated 
them  as  an  invading  army.  Whilst  within  his  do- 
minions, the  Spaniards  had  occasion  for  ceaseless 
vigilance.  The  natives  were  constantly,  but  secretly 
prowling  around  them,  and  every  one  who  wandered 
from  the  camp  was  certain  to  be  captured  or  slain. 
If  slain,  they  were  beheaded.  Not  satisfied  with 
this  revenge,  the  savages  would  dig  up  the  Span- 
iards who  had  been  buried,  decapitate  them,  and 
then  hang  their  headless  bodies  upon  tiie  trees. 
They  spent  nearly  three  weeks  in  this  province. 
In  order  to  avoid  irritating  the  haughty  and  in- 
dependent chief,  De  Soto  prohibited  his  people 
from  destroying  the  houses  or  injuring  the  fields 
of  grain. 

At  the  end  of  twenty  days,  they  took  up  their 
line  of  march  for  Ocali,  which  they  found  to  consist 
of  some  six  hundred  houses.  The  wary  chief  of 
the  place  carefully  avoided  them  at  first,  but  being 
assured  of  their  kindness,  he  consented  to  become 
their  guide.  At  this  place  four  Indians  came  into 
camp  one  day,  who  were  received  with  special  cour- 
tesy A  meal  was  provided  for  them,  to  which  they 
sat  down  ;  but  when  the  attention  of  the  Spaniards 
was  drawn  in  another  direction,  they  sprang  to  their 
feet  and  ran  off  with  the   swiftness  of  the  wind. 


4- 


ifii- 


'K-** 


J 


*^  ■  ^ 


€ 


} 


,■0 


> 


J' 


96 


A    SAGACIOUS    HOUND. 


1 

1 

i 

! 

(I 

' 

M  * 


The  Spaniards  were  provided  with  a  number  of 
hounds.  One  of  these,  seeing  the  Indians  fleeing, 
darted  after  tluMu ;  passing  by  three  of  them,  he 
sprang  upon  the  let^der  and  brouglit  him  to  the 
ground.  Wlien  the  next  one  came  up,  he  attacked 
and  brouglit  him  down  in  the  same  manner.  lie 
then  successively  fell  upon  the  two  others.  After 
he  had  brought  them  all  down,  he  kept  worrying 
them,  as  they  successively  attempted  to  rise,  until 
the  Spaniards  came  up  and  secured  them. 

Upon  examination,  it  appeared  that  their  flight 
was  designed  only  to  exhibit  their  skill  and  fleetness 
in  visiting  the  Spanish  camp  and  then  making  their 
escape. 

A  few  days  after  this,  De  Soto,  in  company  with 
the  ch'ef,  was  exjimining  a  river  in  order  to  find  a 
favorable  place  over  which  to  throw  a  bridge.  Some 
Indians  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream, 
v,ho  used  insulting  language,  saying,  "Away,  vaga- 
bond robbers,  away  !  "  The  hound,  tearing  away 
from  the  page  who  held  him  by  a  cord,  leaped  into 
the  water  and  swam  towards  the  threatening  sav- 
ages. When  they  saw  him  coming,  they  sent  their 
arrows  with  such  successful  aim  that  many  struck 
him  on  the  head  and  shoulders.  But  the  cour- 
ageous animal  kept  on,  amid  their  shower  of  shafts, 
till  he  reached  their  shore,  when,  from  the  effects  of 
ills   wounds  and  fatigue,   he  laid  down  and  died. 


AN    INGKNIOUS    PLOT. 


97 


nr 


Its, 


Ilis  death  was  sincerely  laiinnted   by  tlie  company 
for  he  was  possessed  of  rare   sajj^acity,  bravery,  and 
strenu^th. 

A  rude  but  strong  bridjjre  was  soon  after  con- 
structed  over  this  river  by  means  of  cables  and 
poles  extending  from  one  bank  to  the  other,  across 
which  planks  were  placed,  and  over  which  the  little 
army  safely  passed,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 


engineers. 


The  next  province  which  they  entered  was  called 
Vitachuco,  over  which  three  brothers  exercised  sov- 
ereignty. Two  of  these  were  favorably  disposed 
towards  their  novel  visitors,  but  the  oldest  of  them 
was  decidedly  hostile.  He  pretended,  however,  to 
be  on  friendly  terms,  but  only,  as  it  afterwards  a[> 
peared,  to  secure  a  more  favorable  opportunity  for 
their  destruction.  Whilst  moving  among  the  Span- 
iards, and  professing  an  interest  in  their  welfare,  he 
was  secretly  engaged  in  arranging  an  ingenious  plot 
for  their  total  overthrow.  The  stratagem  was  this  : 
A  large  number  of  his  followers  were  to  be  drawn 
up  in  battle  array,  but  with  their  weapons  concealed, 
so  as  not  to  excite  suspicion,  and  De  Soto  was  to 
be  invited  to  review  them.  As  the  cacique  and  the 
Spanish  leader  came  upon  the  field,  and  reached  a 
certain  designated  spot,  twelve  strong  Indians  were 
to  seize  De  Soto  and  bear  him  oif ;  the  others  were 
then  to  rush  upon  the  camp,  take  it  by  surprise,  and 


i4 


*.i»»' 


10.-' 


^:) 


'■1 


J)8 


AX    APPROACH  INC.    CRISIS. 


slay  the  Spaniards.  Tlie  day  was  fixed,  and,  to  all 
appearance,  the  fate  of  the  army  was  sealed.  This 
nefarious  plot  was  confidentially  reveakd  to  four 
Indiuis,  who  acted  as  interpreters  for  the  Spaniards. 
They  pretended  to  approve  it,  saying  that  it  Mas 
worthy  of  the  g^reat  chief  of  Vitachuco.  But,  be- 
lievini^  that  the  vigilance  and  the  good  discipline  of 
the  S])anish  army  woqld  secure  its  defeat,  they 
made  the  whole  plot  known  through  .Tuan  Ortiz  to 
J)e  Soto.  In  the  mean  time,  the  external  friendly 
relations  between  the  two  parties  were  still  kept  up. 
The  cacicpie  visited  the  Spanish  camp,  the  Inditvns 
went  unarmed,  and  the  Spaniards  gave  no  intimation 
of  the  least  suspicion.  The  chief  encouraged  his 
followers  and  confederates,  telling  them  he  had 
ten  thousand  men,  well  armed,  and  that,  after  the 
victory,  some  of  the  Spaniards  should  be  roasted, 
others  boiled,  others  hung  upon  trees,  and  others 
should  be  put  to  death  with  a  slow  poison,  so  as  to 
see  themselves  gradually  decay. 

When  the  day  arrived,  a  large  army  of  the  In- 
dians were  drawn  up  in  battle  array.  Their  left 
was  j)rotected  by  a  forest,  and  on  their  right  were 
two  lakes.  They  were  arranged  in  three  divisions 
—  a  main  body  with  two  wings.  They  were  gayly 
dressed,  having  head-dresses  of  tall,  waving,  beauti- 
ful plumes.  They  appeared  lo  be  unarmed,  but 
their  bows  were  lying  at  their  feet,  and  their  arrows 


A    GREAT    BATTLE. 


09 


concealed  under  grass.  Every  one  of  those  thoii- 
satuls  of  savajre  men  was  ready,  at  a  moment'^ 
warniMfT,  to  enga|^e  in  bloody  conflict.  De  Soto  iiad 
iiifornicd  his  ofliccrs  of  tlie  [)h)t,  and  of  his  own  in- 
tentions, so  that  tliey  knew  what  was  coniinj^.  Wiiea 
all  things  were  ready,  the  deceitful  chief  very  politely 
invited  Governor  De  Soto  to  walk  out  and  see  his 
warriors.  Without  the  least  appearance  of  fear,  he 
consented,  but  at  the  same  time  told  the  chief  that 
it  was  their  custom  always  to  march  out  in  battle 
array  when  they  gave  honorable  reception  to  their 
friends,  and  perhaps  it  would  be  a  gratification  to 
his  warriors  to  witness  the  Spanish  mode  of  warfare. 
To  conceal  more  successfully  his  designs,  De  Soto 
accompanied  the  chief  on  foot ;  each  was  attended 
by  twelve  men,  and  for  precisely  the  same  purpose. 
We  may  imagine  their  feelings.  The  chief,  sup- 
posing his  plot  entirely  concealed,  is  sanguine  of 
victory  in  the  approaching  contest ;  De  Soto,  relying 
upon  his  brave  cavaliers  and  his  firearms,  is  ecpially 
sanguine.  When  they  arrived  at  the  designated 
place,  where  the  chief  was  to  give  the  fatal  sign 
to  his  body-guard,  Do  Soto  anticipated  him,  and 
ordering  a  gun  to  be  fired  as  the  signal  to  his  army, 
the  twelve  Spaniards  who  accompanied  him  imme- 
diately sei/.ed  the  chief  and  made  him  a  prisoner. 
De  Soto  sprang  upon  a  horse  and  daslied  after  the 
Indians,   who   seized   their   concealed   weapons   and 


4.'i 


S  f 


,a'- 


r-lH'- 


».1(^ 


■0 

m{' 

#     ' 

td^^ 

\ 

1 

:-^ 

m'^ 

i'*' 

1 

^ 

t.^ 

r 

r' 

k 

i'l 

'^ 

^^ 

■:0 

P 
i*/' 

'.00 


THE    VICTORY. 


:;  ?'i!'i 

ill  ■■is 


"eoeived  liim  with  a  sliowcr  of  arrows,  nimed  prin* 
jipally  ut  his  horse,  which  soon  fell  under  him.  He 
mouiiUd  another,  and  rushed,  as  usual,  into  tiie 
\l'ickest  of  the  confhct.  The  battle  now  became 
sjeneral.  The  savages  maintained  their  ground, 
•aowever,  only  a  few  moments  ;  for  when  the  cav- 
alry bore  down  upon  them  they  yielded  to  the  shock 
tnd  (led.  All  was  now  confusion.  Some  concealed 
^iicmselves  in  the  woods  at  the  left,  and  others 
plunged  into  the  lakes  at  the  right  of  their  position. 
The  Spaniards  had  no  desire  to  make  this  a  san- 
guinary aflair.  Instead,  therefore,  of  killing  those 
who  had  fled  to  the  lakes,  which  they  might  easily 
have  done,  they  endeavored  merely  to  frighten  them 
into  a  surrender.  But  the  Indians  continued  to 
fight  in  the  water,  with  the  greatest  obstinacy,  during 
the  whole  day.  Where  the  water  was  too  deep  to 
furnish  them  a  footing,  one  would  mount  upon  the 
shoulders  of  two  or  three  others  clinging  together, 
and  from  that  slippery  position  fire  at  the  Spaniards. 
When  the  darkness  of  the  night  drew  on,  these 
cunning  watermen  would  cover  their  heads  with  tli 
large,  round  leaves  of  the  pond  lilies,  and  cautiously 
swim  to  the  shore,  making  as  little  noise  and  motion 
in  the  water  as  possible.  But  when  their  vigilant 
enemy  saw  through  the  gloom  a  leaf  floating  to- 
wards the  bank,  they  attacked  it,  and  drove  the 
sheltered  fugitive  back  again  into  deep  water.     One 


i'ii. 


THF.    VICTOUf. 


101 


would  occasionally  jrive  out  tliroti<rli  fati<jfup,  and 
siirreiider.  IJy  daylijJ^ht,  nejirly  threescore  liad 
yielded.  In  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  of  the 
next  dav,  after  havinjj  been  soakinjjj  in  tlie  water 
f()r  twenty-four  hours,  and  the  most  of  that  time 
without  touching  bottom,  two  iiundred  more  sur- 
rendered. Seven  only  remained.  They  treated 
with  equal  contempt  both  the  promises  and  threats 
of  their  enemies.  Being  chiefs,  they  considered  it 
their  duty  to  set  an  exam|)le  of  heroic  endurance  in 
the  presence  of  their  tribes,  and  ratiier  die  than 
yield.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  De  Soto 
ordered  twelve  Sp.iliids,  who  could  f^wim,  to 
plunge  in  and  'ake  them.  They  did  so,  carrying 
their  swords  in  their  mouths.  They  seized  the 
exhausted  warriors  by  their  hair  and  arms,  and 
drew  them  to  the  land.  These  noble  fellows  were 
quite  young  —  their  ages  ranging  from  eighteen  to 
thirty-five.  Antonio  Ilerrera,  historiographer  to  his 
Catholic  majesty,  King  of  Spain,  in  the  account 
which  he  gives,  says  that  De  Soto  treated  these 
captured  braves  with  great  kindness,  giviiig  them 
presents  and  sending  them  away ;  but  the  Portu- 
guese narrative,  written  by  a  gentleman  of  Elvas, 
states  that  they  were  put  in  chains  and  divided 
among  the  Spaniards  for  service.  Perhaps  both 
accounts  are  true  —  some  being  released,  and  othert 
being  fettered  as  slaves. 
9» 


..^'' 


.^. 


10^ 


ANOTHER    PLOT. 


I 


Do  Soto  deemed  it  best  to  treat  Vitncliuco,  the 
conquered  cliief,  with  kindness.  He  therefore  had 
the  hospitaUties  of  the  camp  extended  to  him. 
The  caci(|iie  dined  with  the  Governor  whenever  he 
chose.  But  revenue  rankled  in  his  heart.  He 
had  met  with  a  signal  defeat,  and  nearly  a  thousand 
of  his  subjects  were  in  bonds.  He  burned  for  an 
opportunity  to  wipe  out  the  disgrace.  In  the  course 
of  a  week  another  plot  was  devised  and  secretly 
communicated  to  those  of  his  tribe  who  were  held 
as  slaves  by  the  Spaniards.  It  was  this :  On  a 
given  day,  at  an  appointed  signal  from  the  cliief, 
and  when  the  camp  would  be  securely  dining,  every 
Indian  was  to  rise  upon  his  master  and  kill  him 
with  whatever  weapon  was  at  hand.  Accordingly, 
when  the  specified  day  arrived,  Vitachuco,  who  was 
to  be  a  prominent  actor  in  the  bloody  drama,  vis- 
ited the  tent  of  the  commander.  De  Soto,  accord- 
ing to  his  custom,  invited  him  to  dinner.  Wiiilst 
the  company  were  busily  engaged  in  the  duties  of 
the  table,  Vitachuco  pounced  upon  De  Soto  li!:e  a 
vulture  on  his  prey,  at  the  same  moment  giving  the 
fatal  signal  in  a  loud,  terrific  war-whoop,  which 
rang  throughout  tlie  camp  like  tlie  knell  of  death. 
With  one  blow  of  the  chief's  heavy  fist,  skilfully 
planted  between  his  eyes,  De  Soto  fell  to  the  ground 
with  his  face  bathed  in  blood ;  but  before  the  blow 
couH    be    repeated,    the    whole  conpany   at    t  ibh^ 


I  i!!»: 


A    FEARFUL    STRUGGLE. 


103 


Bprnnjif  to  the  rescue  of  their  lender,  phinj^ecl  their 
blades  into  the  body  of  the  chief,  and  drew  him 
from  De  Soto  dead.  The  whole  army  were  instant- 
ly in  commotion.  Personal  rencounters  for  life  or 
death  were  going  on  throughout  the  camp.  As  soon 
us  the  war-whoop  of  Vitachuco  reached  their  ear, 
all  the  Indian  slaves  att.acked  their  masters  with 
whatever  implement  they  happened  to  have  —  with 
pitchers,  pestles,  dinner-pots,  or  burning  brands. 
The  struggle  was  short  hut  fearful.  The  firebrands 
did  the  most  mischief,  but  in  the  end  the  Indians, 
being  in  chains,  were  all  slain.  Many  of  the 
Sj)aniards  were  wounded,  and  four  killed.  The 
natives  displayed  great  bravery  and  strength. 
Some  who  survived  at  the  close  of  the  conflict 
were  led  into  the  square  and  deliberately  shot 
down.  A  tall,  muscular  Indian,  being  led  by  a 
cord  into  this  fatal  enclosure  by  his  master,  who 
was  a  small  and  slender  man,  determined,  when 
he  discovered  the  object,  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly 
as  possible.  Stepping  forward  to  his  master,  he 
seized  him  by  the  neck  and  leg,  raised  him  above 
his  head  with  the  greatest  ease,  whirled  him 
around,  and  then  threw  him  violently  to  the 
p round.  Following  up  his  advantage,  he  sprang 
upon  the  body  of  his  victim,  and  would  soon  have 
despatched  him  if  he  had  not  been  attacked  by 
tlio   Spaniards.     The    savage   seized   the   sword  of 


if 

(!irt 


4 

ft 

I 
) 

A 


1} 


0' 


! 


(;¥: 


!'P 


s  m 


104 


A    TRCIUBLESOMR    MARCH. 


his  master,  regained  his  feet,  and  flouriehed  it 
so  bravely  that  he  kept  fifty  of  them  in  check. 
He  whirled  himself  around  so  violently,  with  his 
sword  at  arm's  length,  that  no  one  could  ap- 
proach hiin.  They  brought  him  down  with  their 
guns. 

The  Indians  of  other  tribes  who  were  in  alliance 
with  the  Spaniards,  and  who  were  at  that  time 
about  the  camj),  were  compelled  to  assist  in  the 
massacre  of  the  prisoners,  in  order  to  create 
such  a  state  of  enmity  between  them  and  the 
tribe  of  Vitachuco  as  to  prevent  any  combina- 
tion between  them  for  the  future  destruction  of 
the   Spaniards. 

Leaving  the  province  of  Vitachuco,  De  Soto 
marched  towards  Apalachee.  He  had  heard  much 
of  the  fertility  of  its  soil  and  the  bravery  of  its 
inhabitants,  and  was  desirous  of  testing  both. 
His  journey  there  was  extremely  difficult.  We 
have  not  room  to  narrate  the  particulars  of  his 
passage,  with  his  luggage,  horses,  and  obstinate 
swine,  through  deep  swamps,  over  rivers,  across 
which  he  had  to  construct  bridges,  through  for- 
ests, and,  what  was  worse  than  all,  the  irritated 
Indians,  who  were  constantly  around  him  like 
swarms  of  mosquitoes,  seizing  every  opportunity 
to  gall  him  with  their  arrows,  which  they  sent 
with  such   force  as  to   pierce  the  Spaniards'  coata 


WINTER    QUARTERS. 


105 


of  mail,  and  even  send  them  througli  their  saddles 
deej)  into  the  hodies  of  the  horses.  The  towns 
through  which  they  passed  were  generally  aban- 
doned, as  the  natives  desired  to  form  no  acquaint- 
ance with  them. 

In  the  month  of  October  they  reached  Ap- 
alachee,  where  De  Soto  determined  to  pass  the 
winter. 


iW-' 


««■ 


106 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


Exploring  Parlies.  —  Guide  murdered.  —  Ocean  found.  —  Traces 
of  Narvaez.  —  Signals.  —  Anasco's  Expedition.  —  Avoids  the 
Natives.  —  His  Dangers.  —  Suflcrings  from  Cold.  —  Suspense.— 
Acute  Smelling.  —  A  Breakfast  Party.  —  Attacked  and  taken.— 
Plans  for  an  Emergency. -^Joyful  Discovery. —  Happy  Meet- 
ing. —  Captives  liberated.  —  Diflerent  Routes.  —  Caldcron's 
Courage.  —  Signals  discovered.  —  A  fat  Chief.  —  His  Con- 
cealment. —  Capture.  —  Stratagem.  —  Escape.  —  Declarations 
of  the  Guard.  —  Superstition  and  Necromancy.  —  De  Soto's 
Policy.  « 


The  town  of  Apalachee  consisted  of  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  rude  Indian  huts.  Whilst  tarry- 
ing here,  De  Soto  sent  out  parties  to  examine  the 
country.  One  of  these  parties,  under  the  conimand 
of  Juan  de  Anasco,  was  directed  to  go  to  the  south 
in  search  of  the  ocean.  Tliey  had  a  suspicious 
guide,  who  led  them  in  a  long,  roundabout  course, 
in  which  they  crossed  their  own  tracks  seversil  dif- 
ferent times.  They  became  angry  with  him ;  he 
retaliated;  blows  ensued,  and  the  poor  fellow  was 
slaiti  in  a  swamp.  They  then  used  another  Indian, 
whom  they  had  captured,  as  their  guide.  He  led 
them  in  a  direct  course  until  their  eyes  were  cheered 
with  a  sight  of  the  deep-blue  water  of  the  ocean. 
Hurrying  on,  they  soon   came  to  a  spacious   bay. 


9 


AN    IMPORTANT    DISCOVERY. 


107 


riieir  attention  was  hero  attracted  by  objects  which 
they  had  seen  nowhero  else  on  their  journey.  la 
ojic  j)hicc  a  quantity  of  cliarcoal  and  cinders  were 
scattered  around  a  rough,  priinitive-h)ok.ino'  Ibrge  ; 
in  another  were  a  numlicr  of  trees,  hollowed  out  as 
if  for  feeding-troughs,  and  near  by  the  skeletons 
of  large  animals,  which  they  soon  discovered  were 
those  of  horses.  These  unusual  appearances  were 
soon  explained.  They  had  arrived  at  the  spot 
where  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  had  constructed  his 
rude  boats,  in  which  he  embarked  on  his  ill-fated 
voyage,  to  make  his  escape  from  this  land  of  sick- 
ness, savages,  and  death.  On  their  journey  through 
the  country,  they  had  occasionally  heard  from  the 
Indians  of  Narvaez.  Places  had  been  pointed  out 
to  them  where  he  had  fought  with  them,  and,  from 
their  accounts,  where  he  was  conquered.  They 
suspected  they  were  upon  his  track,  but  now  they 
were  certain  of  it.  Here  were  the  affecting  memo- 
rials of  his  splendid  faihire.  After  making  a  care- 
ful survey  of  the  spot,  and  placing  signals  in  the 
highest  trees,  that  might  be  seen  a  considerable  dis- 
tance upon  the  water,  they  hastened  their  return  to 
the  camp,  and  communicated  the  important  intelli- 
gence to  their  connnander. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  when  De  Soto  set 
out  upon  his  wandering  through  this  unexplored 
country,  he  left  near  the   place   of  landing  thirty 


I'."!' 


inii''- 


fit' 

I 

Hi 

i'. 

lis 


.1. 


■     ;i.i' 

1 

m 

•1 

I 

1 

ii-ii 

1 

■!'.■!'!(!■; 

1 

1 

'3 

■' 

i 

i| 

i 

108 


A    DARING    ENTERPRISE. 


horsemen  and  seventy  f(»otmen,  under  the  command 
of  the  brave  and  chivah'ous  Pedro  Calderon,  with 
provisions  sufficient  for  two  years.  He  now  re- 
solved to  send  for  them  to  come  to  him  in  the 
vilhige  of  Anhayea,  in  the  province  of  Apalachee. 
lie  well  knew  that  to  send  them  a  message  would 
be  a  dangerous  enterprise.  It  would  require  great 
vigilance,  bravery,  address,  and  strength.  Juan 
de  Anasco  possessed  all  these  quahties,  and  was 
therefore  selected  for  the  service.  He  had  assigned 
to  him  thirty  bold  cavaliers,  selected  from  many 
others,  all  of  whom  panted  for  the  honor  of  en- 
gaging in  the  enterprise.  They  rode  fleet  horses, 
of  high  mettle ;  for,  as  they  were  to  pass  through 
an  enemy's  country,  some  of  whom  were  burning 
with  revenge  against  the  Spaniards,  their  success 
would  depend  as  much  upon  speed  as  upon  any 
other  quality.  After  receiving  their  orders,  they 
started  off.  Their  policy  was  to  keep,  if  possible, 
from  being  seen  by  the  natives ;  to  avoid  their  towns, 
or  pass  hastily  through  them  at  night ;  and,  by  their 
fleetness,  prevent  the  Indians  from  sending  any  in- 
telligence ahead,  so  that  there  might  be  no  gather- 
itig  of  the  enemy  to  impede  their  progress.  Most 
of  the  way  their  march  was  a  wild,  Gilpin-Iike 
scamper,  as  their  desire  was  not  to  have  adventures 
with  the  Indians,  but  to  reach  Calderon  as  soon  as 
possible.     They  did  meet  with  adventures,  however, 


ANASCO  S    DIFFICULTIES. 


109 


mid  were  (/t)lijrecl  to  exhibit  skill,  stratngom,  ana 
bravery  to  prevent  being  taken  prisoners.  One  of 
their  number  died,  and  one  horse  gave  out,  which 
they  left  in  the  fields.  They  afterwards  obtained 
him.  A  portion  of  tie  time  they  rode  many  miles 
without  seeijig  an  Indian ;  at  another  time  they 
found  themselves  in  the  midst  of  an  ambuscade. 
Arrows  poured  upon  them  from  every  (juarter,  as 
if  the  trees  were  instinct  with  life  and  had  converted 
their  branches  into  bows.  Juan  de  Anasco  and  his 
party  fought  only  in  self-defence.  They  had  not 
time  to  stop  and  follow  uj)  their  successes.  All 
they  desired  was  to  get  safely  through  the  dangerous 
region  and  deliver  their  message.  Along  the  bjud\s 
of  the  rivers  and  around  the  borders  of  swanij)s 
they  found  the  enemy  planted,  who  gave  them  great 
annoyance.  Some  of  tlieir  skirmishes  with  them 
were  highly  exciting.  In  some  instances  the  water 
through  wliich  they  passed  was  so  cold  that  they 
had  great  difficulty  to  force  their  horses  through. 
After  accomplishing  this,  the  men  themselves,  being 
completely  drenched,  suffered  intensely. 

As  they  approached  the  province  where  they  ex- 
pected to  find  Calderon,  they  became  solicitous  to 
know  whether  he  was  living,  whether  the  chiefs  were 
on  good  terms  with  him,  and  especially  whether 
Mocoso  continued  the  faithful  ally  of  the  Spaniards. 

There  was  in  the  company  a  half  breed,  whose 
10 


1, 1 


««' 


H 


no 


KEEN    SCENT. 


name  was  Pedro  Moron,  who  was  distin^islietl  for 
tiie  keenness  of  his  scent.  Early  one  mornino^, 
while  it  was  yet  dark,  as  tliey  were  ridin*^  rapidly 
«Ml()n<^,  Pedro  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  Be  careful  !  I 
smell  fire ! "  The  party  checked  their  steeds, 
looked  around  in  the  darkness,  carefully  listened  and 
snufled  the  bree/.e,  but  without  seeinjr,  hearintj^,  or 
i>melling'  any  thin;^  unusual.  After  riding  a  mile  or 
two  farther,  Pedro  insisted  upon  it  that  he  smi.lt 
fire,  and  that  it  could  not  be  far  off.  The  whole 
company  were  soon  convinced  that  Pedro's  olfacto- 
ries had  not  deceived  them  ;  for  after  another  exam- 
ination, a  light  was  seen  twinkling  at  a  distance 
through  the  trees  of  the  forest.  Approaching  it 
very  cautiously,  they  discov  cred  a  j)arty  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  Indians,  men,  women,  and  children,  cooking 
and  eating.  The  Spaniards  resolved  to  capture 
them,  ascerta'..  Caldcron's  condition,  and  whether 
Mocoso  continued  on  iVien»lly  terms  with  him.  If 
he  did  not,  they  would  send  these  Indians  to  Cuha 
as  slfives.  They  ap'proached  in  the  darkness,  slowly 
and  noiselessly,  (juite  near  to  tliis  breakfast  party, 
witlu)ut  detection.  Then  putting  spurs  to  their 
horses,  tiiey  sprang  suddenly  upon  the  Indians,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  some  fifteen,  nearly  the 
whole  of  them.  A  few  plunged  into  the  woods  and 
thickets,  and  made  their  escape.  During  the  excite- 
ment of  the  occasion,  tlie  Indians  frequently  cried 


PAINFIL    SrSF'KNSK. 


Ill 


"  Ortiz  !   Ortiz  !  "  as  if  to  remind  the  Spaniards  that 
they  were  friends,  and  were  iictmainted  witli  Ortiz. 

The  fish  which  the  Indians  had  heen  cookinjf  now 
furnished  the  Spaniards  u  very  acce|)tahle  meal, 
which  they  ate  without  leaving  their  horses.  The 
limited  information  which  they  ohtained  from  their 
captives  was  far  from  being  satisfactory.  Tiiey 
were  still  in  doubt  respecting  Calderon.  Tliey 
looked  carefully  around  for  the  footprints  of  horses, 
but  saw  none.  They  pressed  on  with  hearts  sad- 
dened with  painful  suspense.  They  had  now 
arrived  near  where  Calderon  was  left,  and  vet 
they  could  discover  no  traces  of  him.  They 
talked  over  the  plan  they  would  adopt  in  case 
Calderon  had  been  slain,  or  had  left  the  place. 
They  would  secrete  themselves  in  the  depths  of 
some  forest,  rest  a  nuniber  of  days  for  their  horses 
to  recover  from  their  fatigue,  and  then  fight  their 
way  back  through  the  enemy's  country,  if  possible  ; 
but  if  their  enemies  should  prove  too  powerful  foi 
them,  they  resolved  to  die  fighting  bravely  to  the 
last.  Whilst  pondering  and  conversing  upon  these 
things,  with  depressed  spirits,  they  came  to  a  pond, 
where  they  discovered  prints  of  horses'  hoofs,  and 
indications  that  the  Spaniards  had  made  lye  there 
for  the  purpose  of  washing  their  clothes,  on  the 
banks  of  the  pond.  Their  suspense  wa?  now  at  an 
end ;  they  were  as  much  overjoyed  as  was  Robinson 


^P 

j|(^^-" 

.■■^ 

m  '•' 

i" 

1! « 

.1 

Ilk' 

;'^ 

!- 

^ 

1  ^'* 

■f 

!|  t* 

,* 

:l 

i\f 

-m 

n-2 


A    JOYOUS    MEETING. 


Crusoe  when  lie  discovered  for  the  first  time  hiimnn 
footprints  on  the  sandy  shore  of  his  desolate  island. 
Not  only  did  this  weary  company  of  cavaliers  shout 
for  joy  —  their  horses  caught  their  spirits.  They 
Hcemed  now  to  be  as  quick  scented  as  Pedro  him- 
self, and,  snuffing  the  breeze,  they  snorted,  reared, 
j)lunged,  and  neighed  aloud,  as  if  calling  to  other 
horses  which  they  knew  could  not  be  far  off.  All, 
both  horses  and  riders,  now  pressed  on  with  renewed 
spirits,  and  in  the  edge  of  the  evening  they  came 
suddenly  upon  Calderon  and  his  company,  just  as 
the  evening  patrol  were  leaving  camp.  The  mo- 
ment the  two  parties  saw  each  other,  they  rent  the 
ah*  with  lottd;r'Shouts,  and  rushed  towards  each 
other  with  the  most  joyous  excitement.  Alas  for 
poor  human  nature! — Calderon,  instead  of  asking 
after  the  health  of  De  Soto  and  the  adventures  of 
the  army,  earnestly  inquired,  "  Have  you  found  any 
gold  ?  " 

The  Indians  which  Anasco  had  captured  on  the 
way  were  brought  into  camp ;  but  when  he  found 
that  their  chief,  Mocoso,  continued  the  friend  of  tlip 
Spaniards,  he  released  them  and  sent  them  home 
with  presents,  at  the  same  time  inviting,  through 
them,  their  cacique  to  visit  him  with  a  company  of 
his  people.  A  few  days  afterwards,  Mocoso  came 
to  the  camp,  bringing  with  him  the  horse  and  its 
accoutrements  which  Anasco   had  left  in  the  fields 


calderon's  march. 


113 


because  it  had  given  out.  As  the  Iiuliaiis  did  not 
dare  to  ride  the  animal,  two  of  them  led  him,  wiiilst 
others  hrouj^lit  the  saddle,  and  other  articles  that 
bchMiged  to  him,  in  their  arms. 

In  comphance  with  the  orders  which  lie  had  re- 
ceived from  De  Soto  before  he  left,  Anasco,  in  a  few 
days,  embarked  in  the  brigantincs  for  the  Bay  of 
Ante,  or  St.  Mark's,  where  were  the  remains  of  the 
horses  and  forge  of  Narvaez.  Another  of  the  com- 
pany, Gomez  Arias,  sailed  as  the  bearer  of  despatches, 
taking  with  him  twenty  Indian  squaws  to  Donna 
Isabella,  in  Cuba  ;  and  Pedro  Calderon  set  out  with 
a  force  of  a  hundred  and  fifty,  seventy  of  whom 
were  mounted,  to  find  his  way  to  De  Soto  by  land. 
We  shall  not  narrate  the  particulars  of  Calderon's 
journey  to  his  Governor  at  Apalachee.  It  must 
sufllice  to  say,  that  it  was  very  similar  to  the  march 
of  De  Soto  and  that  of  .Tuan  de  Anasco,  being  se- 
vere and  tedious.  At  the  rivers,  morasses,  and 
woods,  he  was  met  by  the  Indians,  who  off*ered  vio- 
lent resistance  to  his  passage.  By  day  and  by  night 
Ihey  were  howling,  like  so  many  hungry  wild  beasts, 
around  his  path,  and  at  every  favorable  opportunity 
sending  their  silent,  painful,  and  ofttimes  fatal  shafts 
among  them.  With  heroic  courage,  Calderon  fought 
his  way  through  them,  killing  several  of  their  chiefs 
and  many  of  their  men.  He  lost  from  his  own 
company  about  a  dozen  soldiers  and  several  horsea. 
10* 


iiij'". 


tMl 


114 


A    CORPULENT    CHIEF. 


I  'I 


|p  1; 


When  Cnklerou  arrived  jitoAjmlaclit'e,  he  was 
highly  gratified  to  find  Juan  do  Anasco  there. 
Anasco  Imd  coasted  ah)ng  the  shore  of  tlie  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  until  he  saw  the  signals  which  had  heen 
fixed  in  the  highest  trees  at  the  Bay  of  Ante  ;  he 
then  sailed  into  the  harbor,  and  found  a  company  of 
De  Soto's  men  waiting  for  him,  who  escorted  him 
to  their  commander  at  Apalachee. 

Whilst  .Tuan  de  Anasco  was  absent  on  his  em- 
bassy to  Calderon,  De  Soto  had  a  curious  adventure 
with  the  cacique  of  Apalachee,  whose  name  was  Ca- 
pafi.  This  chief  was  unwilling  to  come  to  any 
terms,  or  even  have  an  interview  with  the  Spanish 
Governor.  lie  kept  himself  so  closely  concealed, 
that  it  was  some  time  before  De  Soto  found  out  his 
haunt.  He  had  suflScient  reasons  for  this  ;  among 
them  was  his  own  helplessness.  He  was  an  Indian 
Daniel  Lambert  —  so  heavy,  fat,  and  unwieldy,  that 
he  could  not  walk.  When  at  home,  he  crawled 
around  his  tent  on  all  fours.  If  he  went  abroad,  he 
was  borne  in  a  rough  palanquin,  or  in  the  arms  (S 
some  of  his  people.  His  personal  safety  required 
total  concealment.  He  therefore  secreted  himself 
in  the  heart  of  a  dense  forest,  access  to  which  was 
extremely  difficult.  There  was  only  one  entrance 
to  his  retreat,  and  that  was  so  narrow  that  only  one 
could  enter  it  at  once.  This  being  barricaded  in 
severa'  different  places,  where  also  was  stationed  a 


A    CORPULENT   CAPTIVE. 


115 


fitrrmji  <n«Mr<l,  mu]  tlic  did  cliicf  l)cliij]f  surroniidi'd 
l)v  soiiM'  of  his  ficrci'st  warriors,  iV'lt  coinparativcly 
safe.  llui  Do  Soto  found  liiiii  out,  and  attacked  liim 
like  a  lion  in  liis  lair.  The  Indians  made  a  brave  de- 
rciicc  for  their  corj)ulent  chief,  hut  it  was  of  no  avail 
Tlieir  barricades  were  taken  one  after  the  other,  and 
they  were  driven  into  a  small  ck'arance  in  the  depth 
of  the  forest,  where  the  iielpless  old  L'hief  was  w  ait- 
in":.  with  intense  solicitiide,  the  result  of  the  fi^ht. 
When  the  S])aniards  \.  <d  effected  an  entrance  into 
this  enclosure,  and  were  cutting  down  the  o:uard  in 
the  presence  of  the  chief,  Capafi  gave  his  men  or- 
ders to  yield,  telling  them  they  had  done  all  in  their 
power,  and  further  fighting  would  be  useless.  After 
the  Indians  had  eapitidated,  they  knelt  before  their 
'conqueror,  and  earnestly  entreated  him  to  sj)are  their 
helpless,  yet  beloved  chief.  lie  assured  them  that 
bis  intentions  in  visiting  tlieir  country  were  friendly, 
and  that  he  would  inllict  no  injury  upon  their  ca- 
cique. The  fat  sagamore  was  then  brought  to  him 
bv  some  of  his  bodv-guard,  that  he  niiaiit  kiss  the 
band  of  the  successful  Spaniard.  Thougli  De  Soto 
promised  to  treat  liim  kindly,  as  a  matter  of  expedi- 
ency he  held  him  a  captive.  He  thought  that  by  so 
doing  the  Indians  would  be  careful  nqt  to  molest  the 
Spaniards.  lie  was  mistaken.  Being  relieved  of 
the  care  of  their  chief,  they  lind  nothing  to  do 
but  tf     '*nnoy  the    invaders,  for    'vhicb    they  were 


I   > 


•  •'•. 


M   ■ 


iiir 


C 

^i^ 


^ 


116 


CAPAFIS    PROPOSAL. 


careful  to  avail  themselves  of  every  favorable  oppor 
tunity. 

De  Soto  remonstrated  with  the  chief  for  the  ih 
conduct  of  his  tribe.  Capafi  professed  great  regret 
for  it,  and  revealed  to  the  Spanish  commander  tiie 
hiding-place  of  some  of  his  bravest  followers.  He 
even  offered  to  go  to  them  under  a  military  guard, 
and  order  them  to  cease  troubling  their  white  visitoKs. 
His  proposal  was  accepted.  Under  a  strong  escort, 
embracing  both  foot  and  mounted  soldiers,  the  fat 
and  wily  old  chief  set  out.  When  they  arrived 
near  the  ]  lace  of  concealment,  the  chief  sent  some 
messengers  to  the  Indians  who  were  secreted  in  the 
forest,  ordering  them  to  present  themselves  before 
him  the  next  morning.  At  night,  a  strong  guard 
was  placed  around  the  cacicpie,  although  it  seemed 
unnecessary,  for  it  was  impossible  that  such  a  mass 
of  fat  should  either  run  or  be  stolen  away.  Sen- 
tinels were  also  st^itioned  a  short  distance  off,  to 
give  notice  of  the  approach  of  enemies,  if  any 
should  venture  to  molest  them  in  the  dark.  After 
every  arrangement  was  made  for  their  own  security, 
and  especi«Uly  for  the  safety  of  the  chief,  those  not 
on  duty  laid  down  to  rest.  The  night  wore  away 
without  any  alarm,  but  when  the  morning  can»e 
tiiejr  amazement  was  extreme  to  find  that  the  cor- 
pulent, helpless,  cunning  old  chief  was  gone  1 
Wiiere  he  had  gone,  or  how,  no  3ue  knew.     The 


MYSTERIOUS    DISAPPEARANCE. 


117 


sentinels  and  guard  all  declared  that  they  had  been 
wakeful  and  vigilant,  yet  they  had  neither  seen  nor 
heard  any  thing  during  the  whole  night.  The  con- 
clusion to  which  they  came  was,  that  he  had  been, 
in  some  mysterious  manner,  whisked  away  from 
them  through  the  air,  either  by  evil  spirits  or  by  the 
potent  influence  of  Indian  necromancy.  With  fear 
and  shame  they  retraced  their  steps  to  the  camp, 
and  related  the  wonderful  disappearance  to  De  Soto, 
with  all  the  embellishments  which  their  fears  and 
superstition  could  invent.  De  Soto  thought  it  best 
to  take  but  little  notice  of  the  affair,  although  he 
was  probably  convinced  that  it  was  the  result  of 
their  own  carelessness  in  falling  asleep  at  theil 
posts. 


I 


iiii: 

■    -I 

.■1 

,„•>' 

HI* 

^i;  > 

m 

S-iii    3*-'* 

tit 

'^  :\P 

ill".       « 


H' 


Ji' 


118 


CHAPTER     IX. 

Wmicr  n.xpcrioiicc.  —  Golden  Reports.  —  Eflccts  of  Cruelty.— 
Tree  shot  down.  —  Cnnnon  left.  —  Cofaqui.  —  Peter's  Alarm.  ^ 
His  Ji;i[)tisni.  —  Lar<^e  Escort.  —  The  Course  lost.  —  The  Army 
be\vildero<l.  —  The  Swine  useftd.  —  Anasco's  Success.  —  Rcau- 
lit'ul  S(|u<iw-Sachcm.  ^  Her  Courtesy.  —  A  Suicide.  —  I'he 
.Princess  captured.  —  Gold  proves  to  be  Copper.  —  Pearls.— 
Spanish  IMail. — The  Princess  escapes.  —  iler  Cruelty.  —  Gi- 
gantic Chief. —  Rattle  of  Mauvila.  —  Enfja^vnicnl  of  the  Rear- 
(•nard.  —  Results  of  tlie  Baltic.  —  A  Night  of  Agony. 

During  llie  winter  that  De  Soto  spent  at  Aji- 
olachee,  the  Si)aniards  had  many  rencounters  with 
the  Indians.  For  whenever  any  of  tliem  wandered 
from  tlie  camp,  they  were  ahnost  certain  to  be  dis- 
covered and  attacked,  whether  they  were  on  liorse 
or  afoot.  In  these  enoagements  the  natives  ex- 
hibited great  prowess  and  strenj^th.  So  large  and 
powerful  were  their  bows  thut  they  would  sometimes 
send  an  arrow  etitirely  throtigh  a  horse,  and  at  other 
times  would  bury  the  arrow  completely  in  the  horse, 
leaving  aj)p!irently  only  a  small  flesh  wound,  whicli 
would  be  the  hole  through  which  the  arrow  had 
entered 

One  day  two  young  Indians  were  brought  to 
De  Soto,  apparently  about  sixteen  or  seventeen 
years  of  age,  who  had  accompanied  Indian  trader. s 


NEW    RUMORS    OF    GOLD. 


119 


in  their  journeys  from  one  tribe  to  another.  In 
their  examination  these  Indians  stated,  that  about 
thirteen  or  fourteen  days'  march  from  where  they 
then  were  was  a  province  which  produced  gold, 
silver,  and  pearls,  and  that  a  woman  governed  it,  to 
whom  the  surrounding  tribes  were  tributary.  One 
of  tiiem  also  gave  a  particular  account  of  the  pro- 
cess of  mining  and  of  refining  metals,  "  as  if  he 
had  seen  it  done,  or  the  devil  had  taught  it  him." 
Those  wiio  were  acquainted  with  the  process  said 
that  it  was  impossible  to  give  so  correct  an  account 
without  liaving  seen  it.  This  was  the  most  accepta- 
ble news  that  the  Spaniards  could  hear.  The  name 
of  this  new  El  Dorado  was  Cofachiqui.  De  Soto 
determined  to  lose  no  time  in  setting  out  for  it. 
Accordingly,  after  having  remained  in  Apalacht'e 
five  months,  he  broke  up  his  encampment  and  com- 
menced his  march  for  Cofachiqui.  He  would  have 
taken  the  Indians  which  he  had  captured  with  him, 
as  servants  and  bagjjage  bearers,  but  as  durinjj  the 

era      ~  '  ~ 

winter  they  had  been  kept  in  fetters,  were  jiimost 
naked,  and  had  been  exposed  to  the  severity  of  tlie 
cold,  they  had  nearly  all  died  from  cruel  treatment. 
The  Spaniards  were  therefore  obliged  to  carry  their 
own  baggage.  In  three  days  they  arrived  at  a  town 
called  Capachiqui.  Here  seven  men,  who  had  wan- 
derea  too  far  from  the  camp,  were  attacked  by  the 
8am<^  number  of  Indians.     A  bloody  confiict  ensued, 


I  ■' 


'«iii 

utii 

I    i' ' 

i 

■■i 

? 

I 

f  'if  •  > 

Mi^ 

^i 

i^j' 


f,* 


«i« ";; 

';J« 

DKf  ■  ' 

i* 

iiJi'" 

f 

■4 

i 

i>)  ■■■■ 

'a 

i^ 

c. 

;> 

i\-^ 

iir 

i 

.11  K* 

•1 

■It 

II  r 

■m 

120 


THE    CANNON. 


i|!ii> 


ill 


which  resulted  in  the  death  of  six  of  the  Spaniards 
After  ten  days'  travel,  they  arrived  at  Cofa,  the 
cacique  of  which  received  them  with  all  honor,  lie 
h.ade  them  a  present  of  rabbits,  quails,  corn,  and 
liuge  numbers  of  dogs.  He  also  appointed  two 
thousand  Indians  as  a  kind  of  guard  of  honor  tc 
:he  strangers. 

De  Soto  had  persevered  in  carrying  his  cannon 
with  him  through  all  tlie  woods,  swamps,  and  difli- 
cult  passes  which  he  had  thus  far  met.  Finding  it 
but  of  little  use  in  the  guerilla  mode  of  warfare 
adopted  by  the  Indians,  and  it  being  a  great  burden 
to  those  who  had  the  special  care  of  it,  he  resolved 
to  leave  it  in  charge  of  this  friendly  chief.  That 
he  might  know  its  wonderful  power,  De  Soto  or- 
dered it  to  be  loaded  and  pointed  at  a  tree  at  a 
considerable  distance.  When  it  was  touched  off, 
the  Indians  were  astonished  at  the  loudness  of  tiie 
report ;  but  when  they  saw  its  execution  in  cutting 
off,  with  only  two  charges,  a  large  tree,  which  it 
would  have  required  them  a  long  time  to  fell,  they 
were  more  amazed  than  ever.  They  received  the 
care  of  this  marvellous  instrument  as  an  evidence 
of  the  coniidence  of  these  strangers,  and  promised 
that  it  should  receive  no  injury.  After  resting  here 
a  few  days,  the  army  resumed  their  march  to  the 
country  of  Cofaqui,  the  brother  of  this  friendly 
chief.     A  message  had    been  sent  to  him   by   his 


PETER  S    FRIGHT. 


]21 


brother  that  the  Spaniards  were  cominj]^,  with  tlie 
request  that  he  wouhl  give  them  a  kind  reception. 
He  accordingly  came  out  with  a  large  retinue  of 
his  followers,  richly  decorated  with  graceful  plumes 


Firins  of  Do  Soto's  Cannon. 


showy  mantles  of  costly  skins,  and  the  usual  orna 
irents  of  a  full  dress.  Professions  of  mutual  friend- 
ship were  soon  exchanged  between  the  two  parties. 
Whilst  here,  Peter,  one  of  the  young  Indian  guides, 
alarmed  the  whole  camp.  Two  different  accounts 
of  the  affair  are  given.  The  Portuguese  narrative 
gays  that  the  boy  had  a  fit ;  he  foamed  at  the  mouth 
and  tumbled  on  the  ground  as  one  possessed  with  a 
devil  "  They  said  a  gospel  over  him,  and  the  fi> 
11 


I 


iU  ■ 


^ 


,1^ 


122 


THE    ARMY    BEWILDERED. 


left  him."  But  the  historiograplier,  Antonio  de  FTer- 
rera,  states  that  tlie  alarm  was  given  by  an  Indian 
calling  out  that  Peter  was  in  danger  of  being  killed. 
"  All  the  forces  were  immediately  at  arms,  and  found 
Peter  quaking,  who  said  that  the  devil,  attended  by 
many  of  his  companions,  had  threatened  to  kill  him 
in  case  he  conducted  the  Spaniards  as  he  had  prom- 
ised ;  that  he  had  dragged  and  beaten  him  so  un- 
mercifully, that,  had  they  not  come  to  his  assistance, 
he  would  have  killed  him ;  and  since  the  great  devil 
had  fled  from  two  Christians,  he  desired  that  they 
would  baptize  him,  that  he  might  be  a  Christian  as 
well  as  they."  Herrera  goes  on  very  coolly  to  say 
"  This  appeared  to  be  no  fiction,  by  the  bruises  and 
swelhngs ;  whereupon  the  Adelantado  (De  Soto) 
delivered  him  to  the  priests,  who  stayed  with  him  all 
night,  baptized  him,  and  thv.  next  day  he  was 
mounted  on  horseback,  because  of  his  hurts." 

After  leaving  this  place  with  an  escort  of  several 
thousands  of  Indians,  the  army  entered  a  vast  wil- 
derness, where,  after  a  short  time,  they  lost  the 
path,  and  knew  not  which  way  to  go.  The  escort 
and  the  guides  were  equally  ignorant.  The  Span- 
iards were  here  reduced  to  great  straits.  Their 
food  was  gone,  their  horses  exhausted,  the  spirits 
of  the  men  depressed,  and  no  one  could  give  the 
leii«t  h  i^rmation  as  to  the  direction  they  should 
tal<  tvtricate    themselves    from    their    perilou.s 


THE    BURIED    L.ETTER. 


123 


condition.  Beinjr  on  the  banks  of  an  unknown 
river,  Dc  Soto  sent  off  four  exploring  parties,  eaili 
accompanied  with  a  thousand  Indians,  to  foHow  the 
course  of  this  stream,  in  opposite  directions,  for  pur- 
poses of  discovery.  Tlie  swine  which  they  had 
succeeded  in  driving  along  with  them  to  the  ])resent 
time  now  answered  a  vakiahle  purpose.  Enough 
of  them  were  killed  to  furnish  each  man  an  allow- 
ance of  half  a  pound.  Though  this  was  far  from 
appeasing  their  hunger,  it  was  better  than  nothing. 
The  exploring  party  under  .Tuan  de  Anasco,  after 
three  days'  travel,  succeeded  in  finding  a  country 
well  inhabited,  and  where  was  an  abundance  of  food. 
When  this  intelligence  reached  the  army,  they  were 
greatly  cheered.  De  Soto  immediately  started  off 
for  this  land  of  plenty.  He  left  a  card  upon  a  tree 
containing  directions  to  dig  at  the  root  and  letters 
would  be  found.  When  the  other  exploring  parties 
returned,  they  saw  this  card,  dug  up  the  letters,  and 
in  this  maimer  learnt  where  their  Governor  had 
gone  and  what  were  his  orders.  The  country  dis- 
covered by  Anasco,  and  whither  the  whole  army 
had  now  gone,  was  in  the  far-famed  province  of 
(^ofachiqui,  of  which  they  were  in  pursuit.  The 
Indians  who  had  accompanied  them  were  at  war 
with  this  people,  and  therefore  now  seized,  unknown 
to  the  Spaniards,  every  opportunity  to  murder  old 
and    young,   of   both    sexes,    wherever    they    could 


■  :.  '4 


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1 


11 


J24 


INDIAN    SUICIDE. 


m 


Ni 


ii 


find  them.  That  he  might  not  be  implicated  in 
their  cruelties,  De  Soto  released  his  Indian  escort, 
made  them  presents  for  their  services,  and  sent 
I  hem  home. 

The  province  of  Cofachiqui  was  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  an  Indian  princess.  This  squaw- 
chief  is  said  to  have  been  very  beautiful,  courteous, 
and  generous.  She  made  a  visit  of  ceremony  to 
De  Soto,  gave  him  provisions  for  his  people,  ofl'ered 
him  houses  for  their  use,  and  even  took  off  a  string 
of  rich  pearls  which  went  three  times  round  her 
neck,  and  with  her  own  hands  placed  it  upon  the 
neck  of  the  Spanish  commander.  In  return, 
De  Soto  gave  her  a  gold  ring,  containing  a  ruby, 
which  she  placed  upon  her  finger.  The  mother  of 
this  lady-chieftain  refused  to  have  any  intercourse 
with  the  Spaniards.  All  the  efforts  of  De  Soto  to 
obtain  an  interview  with  her  were  baffled.  The 
princess  commanded  an  Indian  to  guide  a  company 
of  Spaniards  to  the  retreat  of  her  mother.  On  the 
way  this  guide  committed  suicide  with  the  sharp 
flint  head  of  an  arrow.  Knowing  that  if  he  obeyed 
the  princess  he  would  greatly  offend  her  mother,  if 
he  disobeyed  he  would  incur  the  anger  of  the  ;."in- 
cess  herself,  and  by  suicide  he  would  escape  both,  he 
preferred  this  latter  to  either  of  the  other  alternatives. 
As  no  other  person  in  the  company  knew  the  hiding- 
place   of  the   old   lady,  the   secret   would   die  with 


THE    BUBBLE    BURST 


Via 


himself,  and  the  lady  would  escape.  This  was  the 
most  plausible  explanation  of  his  conduct  which 
could  be   given. 

To  secure  good  treatment  from  her  subjects, 
De  Soto  ca]>tured  the  young  princess  who  had 
treated  him  so  kindly,  and  kept  her  under  close 
guard.  As  this  was  the  place  where  the  precious 
metals  were  expected  to  be  obtained,  diligent  in- 
quiries were  made  respecting  them.  Specimens 
were  brought,  which  at  once  put  to  flight  all  the 
dreams  of  luxury  and  wealth  the  Spaniards  had 
cherished.  The  yellow  metal  which  they  had  heard 
of,  and  which  they  had  presumed  was  gold,  proved 
to  be  nothing  but  light-colored  coi)])er,  and  the 
specimens  brought  as  samples  of  silver  ore  were 
nothing  but  useless  sand,  containing  Miiite,  shining 
particles,  similar  to  mica.  The  golden  bubble  burst. 
The  principal  alleviation  of  their  disajjpointment 
consisted  in  vast  quantities  of  pearls  which  they 
found  there,  some  of  which  were  perfect,  but  others 
had  been  smoked  and  injured  by  lire.  In  the 
burying-places  they  found  many  bushels  of  them. 
They  carried  away  only  a  few,  and  even  these  soon 
became  burdensome.  When  examining  the  place 
for  valuables,  they  were  greatly  astonished  to  dis- 
cover a  dagger  and  several  coats  of  mail,  which 
had  long  been  in  the  possession  of  these  Indians. 
After  diligent  inquiry  ccmcerning  their  history,  i< 
11  * 


in- ' 


^'■-  '? 


1 1        .^ 


I 


0 


: 


126 


THE    CAPTIVE    PRINCESS. 


M''-^ 


was  tlie  opinion  of  the  Spaniards  that  they  had  be- 
longed to  an  expedition  which  had  been  fitted  out,  a 
number  of  years  before,  under  the  connnand  of 
Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon.  Vasquez  died  ;  his  en- 
terprise proved  a  failure,  and  these  were  its  me- 
morials. 

Having  staid  in  this  rich  and  productive  country 
until  he  had  worn  out  his  welcome  and  a  state  of 
ill  feeling  had  been  engendered  between  the  natives 
and  the  Spaniards,  De  Soto  broke  up  his  encamp- 
ment and  resumed  his  march.  He  took  with  him 
the  captive  princess,  in  order  that  through  her  influ- 
ence he  might  obtain  guides  and  baggage-carriers 
for  his  army  till  he  reached  the  limits  of  her  domin- 
ions. Although  this  beautiful  squaw-sachem  was 
closely  watched,  she  had  art  enough  to  contrive  a 
method  of  escape,  which  she  successfully  executed. 
She  secretly  left  tl»e  camp,  taking  with  her  a  box  of 
valuable  unbored  pearls  and  two  or  three  negro 
friaves  who  belonged  to  the  Sj)aniards.  Why  she 
enticed  these  slaves  away  is  unknown,  unless  slie 
wanted  them  as  trophies  because  they  had  once  be- 
longed to  the  Spaniards.  She  had  slaves  of  her 
o*vn,  but  did  not  treat  them  very  kindly.  The^ 
were  Indians  who  had  been  captured  in  war.  In 
order  to  prevent  their  return  to  their  own  people 
she  had  them  lamed,  by  having  the  sinews  of  the 
leg  cut  near  the  ancle. 


SANGUINARY    CONFLICT. 


127 


A  few  days  after,  Do  Soto  entered  tlie  territory 
of  a  cluef  named  Tuscaloosa.  He  was  of  j(i<!:antio 
stature  and  of  trrcat  strenj»tli.  He  had  lieard  of 
the  stranj^eis,  and  was  prepared  to  receive  them 
He  was  very  courteous  to  De  Soto,  thou<]^h  he  took 
but  Uttle  notice  of  any  of  his  officers.  The  Gov- 
ernor, according  to  his  usual  custom  with  the 
chiefs,  held  this  Goliah-Uke  warrior  in  durance,  in 
order  to  secure  good  treatment  from  his  followers. 
He  afterwards  had  to  pay  dear  for  this  violation 
of  confidence.  When  the  chief  had  conducted 
the  Spaniards  to  Mauvila,  a  large  fortified  town, 
where  he  generally  resided,  it  was  found  that  all 
the  aged  and  the  children  were  absent,  but  thou- 
sands of  noble,  sinewy,  well-armed  braves  were 
assembled  and  concealed  in  different  houses,  who 
had  all  the  appearance  of  being  prepared  for 
deadly  conflict.  It  so  happened  that  only  a  portion 
of  the  Spanish  army  had  pressed  on,  with  De  Soto 
and  the  chief,  to  the  town.  The  others  were  slowly 
following,  under  the  command  of  Luis  de  Moscoso. 
After  the  Spaniards  had  entered  the  town,  which  is 
believed  to  have  been  located  at  what  is  now  calhjd 
Choctaw  Bluff,  between  twenty  and  thirty  miles 
above  the  junction  of  the  Alabama  and  Tombigbee 
Rivers,  the  Indians  soon  managed  to  become  em- 
broiled in  a  quarrel,  which  immediately  led  to  a 
general  and  sanguinary  battle.      All  the  men    on 


I    I 


t 

I 

■A 


f:? 

1- 

'■I 

,* 

ill:" 

I 

-.13 
1 
•1 

■,« 

n 


I2ft 


RESULTS    OF    TIIi:    BATTLE. 


both  sides  who  were  in  and  around  the  town  were 
en<];aged.  Tlic  Indians  ibuglit  hkc  so  many  demons. 
Every  inch  of  ground  in  the  streets  was  bravely 
contested  by  tlie  infuriated  combatants.  Even  tlie 
young"  s(|uaws  who  were  in  tlie  town  engaged  in  the 
bloody  contlict  with  the  heroism  of  despair.  The 
town  was  set  on  fire.  The  murky  smoke  and  raging 
flames,  as  they  swept  furiously  through  the  streets, 
added  to  the  horrors  of  the  scene.  At  times  the 
Spaniards  would  be  driven  before  the  savages ;  then 
rallying,  they  would  recover,  after  great  eftort,  the 
ground  they  had  lost.  When  the  vanguard  were 
nearly  exhimsted,  the  rearguard,  under  Moscoso, 
came  into  the  field,  and  seeing  many  of  their  com- 
rades slain,  and  many  more  wounded,  they  rushed 
into  the  thickest  of  the  conflict,  burning  with  re- 
venge. The  battle  raged  with  new  intensity,  both 
in  and  around  the  city.  It  commenced  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  continued  until  sunset.  The  Indians  re- 
fused to  yield.  They  fought  desperately  to  the  last 
gasp.  When  night  came,  the  Spaniards  were  in 
possession  of  the  field.  A  day  of  horror  j  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  night  of  agony.  The  los?  of  the  Span- 
iards was  nearly  a  hundred  men  ai.d  fifty  horses 
killed.  Of  the  Indians  the  accounts  state  that  sev- 
eral thousands  fell.  Many  of  them  were  consumed, 
because  they  could  not  escape  from  the  houses  which 
were  on  fire.      Some  of   the  buildings   were   very 


SIJFFEHINGS    OF    TIIK    SPANIARDS. 


120 


large  —  cnpablc  of  contniniiig  several  liurulreds. 
These  were  filled  with  natives,  uho  perished  in  the 
flames. 

Though  the  SpjTiiiards  were  victorious,  they  found 
themselves  after  the  battle  in  an  extremely  deplora- 
ble condition.  There  were  nearly  two  thousand 
wounds  requiring  immediate  care,  and  there  was 
only  one  surgeon  in  the  army,  and  he  inexperienced 
and  unskilful.  To  add  to  their  distress,  all  their 
ointments,  medicines,  bandages  for  swathing  wounds, 
and  the  various  other  articles  so  needful  in  times 
of  sickness,  were  consumed  bv  the  fire.  No  houses 
were  standing  where  the  wounded  could  be  shel- 
tered.  The  night  was  passed  in  the  open  air. 
Those  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  being 
severely  wounded  assisted  in  taking  care  of  the 
others.  Some  tore  their  own  shirts  into  strips  to 
furnish  bandages  for  others.  Some  dissected  the 
slain  Indians  for  their  fat,  to  use  in  the  place  of 
ointments.  Others  carved  the  horses,  and  kept  their 
flesh,  with  which  to  feed  the  sick.  This  was  the 
most  severe  engagement  which  the  Spaniards  had 
experienced  since  their  landing  upon  the  continent, 
and  they  never  recovered  from  its  effects. 


,1!  I        '»     ■ 


€.: 


1 


IK 
III' 
(IC '  '■  • 


i' 


ii  4Ht' 


130 


CHAPTER    X. 

Ecclesiiistical  Losses.  —  Dry  Mass.  —  Rumor  of  Ships.  —  I)c  So 
lo's  Chaiig-c.  —  IJattle  at  Night.  —  Moscoso  casliicred.  —  Nove 
BeddiHg.  —  Fortified  Town.  —  Tiie  Mississippi  discovered. — 
Great  Change.  —  Indian's  lle(iuesl.  —  Imposing  Service.  — 
Hoats  destroyed.  —  Death  of  De  Soto.  —  Ilis  <lonl)!e  Burial.  — 
Moscoso  his  Successor.  —  Arrival  in  Mexico.  —  The  Route.  — 
The  Time  occupied.  —  The  Termination.  —  Diminished  Num- 
bers. —  The  Policy  and  Influence  of  the  Spaniards.  —  Blood- 
hounds.—  Sunday  the  sailings  Day. 


At  the  time  of  the  conflagration  in  Mauvila  the 
Spaniards  lost  all  their  wine,  wheaten  flour,  plate, 
and  ecclesiastical  robes,  with  which  thev  were  accus- 
tomed  to  celebrate  mass.  This  was  regarded  as  a 
great  affliction.  Having  decided  that,  even  in  this 
extremity,  the  use  of  flour  made  from  corn  was  not 
allowable  in  that  imposing  service,  they  were  reluc 
tantly  compelled  to  dispense  with  it.  They  resolved, 
liowever,  to  do  the  best  they  could.  Tfence  on  Sun- 
days and  festival  occasions  they  erected  a  temporary 
altar  of  such  materials  as  were  at  hand,  before 
which  the  priest  officiated,  arrayed  in  skins,  which 
were  made  to  imitate,  as  nearly  as  possible,  his 
ecclesiastical  robes.  He  went  through  the  whole 
ceremonial,  except  the  consecration  of  the  elements. 
B^ing  destitute   of  wheat  bread  and  wine,  he  was 


THE    DRY    MASS. 


131 


l)eSo 
Nove 
lre<l.  — 
lire.  — 
irial.  — 
)Uie.  — 
I  Ntiin- 
Blood- 


compelled  to  omit  these  from  tlic  service.  This 
imperfect  ceremony  was  denominated  hy  the  Span- 
iards the  "  Drv  iMass." 

Soon  after  this  disastrous  hattle  with  Tuscaloosa, 
De  Soto  received  reliahle  intelligence  that  vessels 
had  heen  recently  seen  upon  the  coast,  which  was 
oidy  ahout  seven  days'  journey  distance.  Believing 
them  to  be  sojne  of  his  own  officers  whom  he  had 
sent  home  some  time  before  for  re  enforcement  and 
additional  supplies,  he  was  greatly  encouraged. 
With  their  assistance  he  imagined  that  he  would  be 
able  to  establish  a  colony,  keep  possession  of  the 
country,  and  then  make  successful  explorations  for 
the  precious  metals.  His  men  cherished  entirely 
different  intentions.  They  were  thoroughly  tired  of 
these  useless  wanderings  amid  savage  tribes.  To 
them  these  vessels  afforded  a  gleam  of  hope  that 
tliey  would  be  able  soon  either  to  return  home  or 
sail  to  South  America,  where  gold  was  known  to  be 
abundant.  They  determined  to  make  their  csca|)e 
in  them,  if  possible.  When  De  Soto  learnt  this, 
his  feelings  underwent  a  remarkable  char!;:5e.  Ho 
became  taciturn,  irritable,  and  unhappy.  He  lost 
confidence  in  his  men,  and  being  unv»iHing  U^  return 
home  or  even  to  send  any  intelligence^  until  lie  had 
met  with  greater  success,  instead  of  directing  his 
face  towards  the  sea,  he  struck  into  the  interior. 
He   was    followed    reluctantly   by  his    disappointed 


'n  1 
lit!  I 


t,\:U' 


i 

i 


■If'"'-,  :? 


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Il 


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i 


m 

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1 

1 

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il 

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1 
^^^1 

■ 

P 

132 


MIDNIGHT    ATTACK. 


men.  They  arrived  iijion  tlie  banks  of  a  river,  per- 
haps tlic  Black  Warrior.  Tlicy  were  here  met  by 
Tiuliaiis,  wlio  disputed  their  passage.  Two  weeks 
were  spent  in  building  boats  with  which  to  ,  loss. 
On  the  18th  of  December  he  readied  Chicaza,  sup- 
posed to  be  the  territory  of  the  Ciiickasavvs.  They 
here  jiassed  two  montlis  in  winter  quarters,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  they  liad  another  dreadful  con- 
fiict  with  the  natives.  The  savages  came  upon  them 
in  three  bands  at  the  dead  lu)ur  of  night.  In  a 
moment  the  wliole  cam[)  was  in  confusion.  The 
men  seized  their  weapons  and  sprang  to  tlic  defence. 
But  little  order  could  be  observed  in  the  darkness. 
Each  fought  as  best  as  he  could,  whenever  he  dis- 
cerned a  foe.  Tiic  Indians  set  the  town  on  fire, 
which  operated  favorably  for  them.  Before  morn- 
ing, they  were  vanquished.  But  the  victory  cost  a 
great  price.  Forty  soldiers  and  fifty  hoi-ses  had 
fallen.  Nearly  all  the  swine  had  perished.  They 
were  fastened  in  one  of  the  houses,  and  were  nearly 
all  consuned.  The  oidy  Spanish  woman  who  had 
acconq)ai.ied  the  army  in  all  their  romantic  marches 
also  died.  Her  husband  was  in  the  company. 
After  she  had  escaped  from  her  burning  dwelling 
she  returned  to  get  some  pearls  which  she  had  for- 
gotten, when  retreat  became  impossible.  She  was 
burnt  to  dejith.  De  Soto  became  offended  with 
Luis  de  Moscoso,  whose    duty  it  was    to    see  that 


MOSCOSO    DHT'OSF.D. 


133 


vij^ilant  sentinels  were  ))li»cc(l  upon  <riinrd.  lie  was 
su.s[)icious  that  tliis  ilnty  liatl  been  iiejilected,  and  lor 
this  reason  the  Indians  were  so  snecesslnl  in  their 
midnight  attack.  lie  tliereforc  deposed  Moscoso 
from  his  office  of  master  of  the  camj),  and  coid'erred 
this  honor  upon  his  brave  and  faitlifnl  I5alta/ar  de 
Gallegos.  The  army  now  suffered  fr(»m  c(»ld. 
They  resorted  to  the  expedient  of  making  thick 
fabrics  of  ivy  leaves  and  grass,  one  half  of  which 
answered  l«»r  a  mattress,  and  the  other  hidf,  thrown 
over  thesii,  sc!  /ed  for  a  bhmket. 

In  ths  month  of  April,  1511,  De  Soto  came  upon 
a  large  Indian  fortress,  protected  by  strong  pali- 
Siides.  It  was  s(|nare,  each  side  measuring  about  a 
thousand  feet.  Inside  of  this  were  two  other  jiali- 
sades,  behind  which  tiie  Indians  nnght  successivelv 
retiviat  in  case  of  necessity.  It  was  called  Alibamo, 
from  which  the  word  Alabama  comes.  He  here 
had  another  engagcnient.  The  f  — t  was  carried  by 
assault.  The  Indi  ius  were  defeated  with  great 
slaughter,  while  ou!;^  some  fifteen  or  twenty  of  the 
S])aniards  were  sh  "ii,  m'  dii.d  subsequently  of  their 
wounds. 

Leaving  Alibamo,  they  travelled  for  seven  days 
unmolested  by  the  Indians,  as  the  country  through 
which  they  passed  was  uninhabited.  They  made 
but  slow  progress,  in  consequence  of  dense  woods 
and   deep    swairj:.    which    impeded    their     course. 


I...... 

mi":) 


il" 


II  > 

Ii. 

.a 

I 


1 


IB 


VM 


DISCOVKHY    OF    TIFK    MISSISSIPPI. 


They  at  last  readied  the  hanks  of  a  wide,  turbid, 
and  rapid  river,  uhich  tliey  named  the  Rio  Grande, 
or  Great  River.  liittle  did  they  iniajrine  they  were 
then  standinjj^  upon  the  borders  of  a  stream  which, 
in  the  course  of  three  centuries,  would  be  the  great 
central  artery  of  a  vast  republic,  would  be  lined 
with  numerous  cities  and  villajres,  and  be  traversed 
jy  hundreds  of  floating  palaces,  Lome  onward  by 
the  power  of  steam  more  rapidl}  i  the  swiftest 

steed  could  travel.  Yet  so  it  was.  Ti  ri^er  which 
they  had  reached  was  the  renowned  Mississippi,  ai>- 
projjriately  designated  by  the  Indians  "  The  Father 
of  Waters." 

De  Soto  spent  twenty  days  in  building  boats  with 
which  to  transport  his  army  and  baggage  over. 
During  this  time  he  was  visited  by  the  natives,  who 
came  in  large  fleets  of  canoes,  gayly  decorated,  and 
made  an  imposing  appearance.  After  the  passage 
of  the  river  had  been  eflected,  a  cacique  came  to 
him  and  besought  him  to  pray  to  his  God  for  rain, 
as  there  had  been  a  long  drought,  and  the  fields 
were  parched.  He  promised  to  comply.  To  do  it 
in  the  most  impressive  manner,  he  erected  upon  a 
high  hill,  which  overlooked  the  river,  a  large  cross. 
He  then  ordered  the  whole  army,  with  the  exception 
of  the  guard,  to  approach  it  in  procession  and  ofler 
prayers.  A  company  of  priests  and  friars  headed 
the  procession,  chanting  the  litany,  while  the  soldiers 


T^? 


■H 


iiiMt 


l)e  Soto  ott'oriug  pray  it  t'ur.ruin.  —  Tagu  135. 


II 


4 


l)E    SOTO  S    DEATH. 


i:n 


gave  the  responses.  When  they  arrived  near  the 
cross,  they  all  knelt  and  ofFered  prayers ;  after 
whicli  each  iiidivi(hial  approaclied,  knelt  before  it, 
and  kissed  it.  iMany  of  the  Indians  joined  in  the 
procession,  whilst  thousands  of  others  were  specta- 
tors. After  the  ceremony  on  the  hill  was  over,  the 
procession  returned  in  similar  order.  During  the 
nii»ht  rain  fell  abundantly. 

After  crossinji^  the  river,  De  Soto  broke  up  his 
boats,  in  order  to  use  the  nails  and  spikes  for  a 
similar  service,  if  necessary,  and  marched  farther 
into  the  interior.  Ilow  far  he  went,  it  is  diificult 
now  to  toll.  As  he  found  no  gold,  and  his  men  and 
horses  were  constantly  dying,  he  retrnced  his  course 
to  the  iMississipj)i.  He  was  here  taken  sick  with  a 
violent  fever.  Believing  himself  to  be  near  his  end, 
he  made  his  will,  appointed  Luis  de  Moscoso  his 
successor,  bade  his  officers  and  soldiers  farewell, 
confessed  his  sins  according  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
custom,  and  died. 

His  death  was  deeply  lamented  by  all  his  follow- 
ers. As  at  that  time  they  were  among  unfriendly 
Indians,  it  was  considered  of  great  importance  that 
De  Soto's  death  should  be  concealed  from  them. 
He  was  secretly  interred.  The  Indiajis,  however, 
discovered  the  place  of  his  burial,  iv^^'ing  they 
would  exhume  and  mutilate  him,  the  Spaniards 
tliemselves  opened  his  grave,  removed  his  remains, 
12* 


(iji) .  ( 


HP': 


'ilm 


..      J 


mii> 


si 

i,  ■ 

I* 


!■  "si 


K 


j:» 


ROUTE    OF    THE    SPANIARDS. 


I'  li 


placed  tluMu  in  tlie  trunk  of  a  tree,  which  they 
hollowed  out  for  the  purpose,  and,  amid  the  still- 
ness and  darkness  of  niidnijjfht,  they  buried  him 
beneath  the  waters  of  the   Mississippi. 

His  suivivors  were  conducted  by  Moscoso,  after 
incredible  hardshi|>s,  much  fi«>htin«j  with  the  Indians, 
and  after  the  loss  of  all  the  horses  and  many  of  the 
men,  to  Panuco,  a  river  of  Mexico,  which  empties 
info  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

In  the  precedinj^  sketch  of  De  Soto's  ramblings, 
no  attemj)t  was  made  to  trace  his  course,  nor  fix  the 
localities  where  the  dilferent  incidents  occurred,  be- 
cause of  the  great  dilficulty  of  arriving  at  correct- 
ness upon  these  points.  The  best  that  can  be  done 
is  to  present  the  residts  which  have  been  reached  by 
those  who  have  given  special  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject, but  without  our  vouching  for  their  accuracy. 

If  the  reader  will  cast  his  eye  on  a  map  of  the 
United  States,  and  follow  us  along,  he  will  obtain  as 
good  an  idea  of  the  route  pursued,  and  the  distance 
travell(3d,  as  it  is  in  our  power  to  impart. 

Near  the  middle  of  the  western  coast  of  East 
Florida  will  be  seen  Tampa  Bay.  It  was  this 
bay  which  the  Spaniards  called  the  Bay  of  Espiritu 
Santo,  or  Ifoly  Spirit.  Here  they  landed.  From 
this  point  they  proceeded  northerly  to  Vitachuco. 
Then,  turning  to  the  west,  they  crossed  the  Suwanee 
River,  and   arrived    at  Tallahassee,  near   the  Apa* 


^ 


I  ii 


THE    TIME    OCCUPIED. 


UK) 


lacliee  Bay,  or  Bay  of  St.  Mark's.  From  this  point 
tlicy  j)en(3t rated  tlie  country  norlliwardly  to  the  Sa- 
vannah Biver  toucliin<i',  in  tlieir  course,  the  points 
w  here  Macon  and  Milledgeville  now  stand.  Then, 
veering  to  the  north-west,  they  proceeded  as  far  as 
tlie  northern  part  of  Georgia,  near  La  Fayette.  Find- 
ing* no  gold  in  this  direction,  tliey  set  their  faces  to 
the  south  and  travelled  on,  passing  througii  the 
present  localities  of  Rome,  .TelFerson,  and  !^Iont- 
gomery,  following  the  course  of  the  Coosa  and 
Alabama  Rivers,  till  they  arrived  at  JMaubila,  near 
Mobile  Bay.  From  this  |)lace  they  marched  to  the 
north-west,  crossed  the  Tomi)igbee  River  where  Co- 
lumbus now  stands,  and  struck  the  31ississipj)i  at  a 
point  between  Memphis  and  Helena.  This  is  tlu; 
route  as  traced  by  Mr.  UMieodore  Irving,  in  his  in- 
teresting work,  "  The  Concjuest  of  Florida,"  and 
marked  upon  the  um\)  accompanying  his  book. 
After  the  death  of  De  Soto,  his  survivors  visited  the 
hunting-grounds  of  the  far  west  ;  they  crossed  the 
Red  River  near  Natchitoches,  and  penetrated  to 
the  borders  of  Mexico.  They  then  retraced  their 
course  to  the  Mississippi.  As  they  arrived  in  Flor- 
ida in  May,  1539,  and  did  not  reach  Panuco  till 
September,  1543,  they  occupied  over  four  years  in 
these  useless  wanderings. 

Thus  terminated  an  enterprise  which   had  been 
commenced  under  the    most  favorable   auspices  in 


nt'ii 


iiii^  ■ 
III' 
IIP'' 
III 

(11,1. 

'':|IP 


im 


:iv.> 


iff 

-^¥i' 


.    S.: 


Ill) 


DlSASTllOLS    RESULTS. 


^ 


!  S;!. 


if 


rcsju'ct  to  tlic  nnnibcrs,  wealth,  and  influence  of  those 
concerned,  and  also  in  reijard  to  the  prohahlc  pros- 
pects of  success.  AVitli  high  hopes,  dauntless  cour- 
age, and  nohle  hearing,  did  those  gallant  cavaliers 
set  out  from  Spain  to  suhjugate  the  new  world,  and 
return  ladened  with  rich  spoils  of  gold  and  pearls. 
But,  alas  !  how  different  was  their  experience  from 
their  anticipations  ! 

Of  the  one  thousand  persons  who  landed  with 
De  Soto  in  Florida,  only  three  hundred  and  fifty 
reached  Panuco.  They  had  found  no  gold  ;  their 
clothes  were  worn  out ;  they  were  roughly  clad  in 
skins  ;  many  of  them  were  emaciated  and  diseased, 
so  that  they  presented  a  most  wretched  and  forlorn 
a[)pearance.  They  had  formed  no  settlements,  es- 
tahlished  no  trading  posts,  and  left  hehind  them  no 
garrisoned  forts.  The  enterprise  had  })r()ved  a 
si)lendid  failure.  Not  only  had  there  heen  an  im- 
mense pecuniary  loss,  but  also  the  sacrifice  of  some 
of  the  bravest  and  most  chivalrous  si)irits  of  Sj)ain. 
Another  unpropitious  circumstance  was,  that,  on  al- 
irost  all  the  tribes  through  which  they  passed,  they 
had  left  an  unfavorable  imj)ression.  How  could  it 
have  b(jen  otherwise  ?  'J'heir  great  object  was 
gold,  gold.  For  this  they  made  great  sacrifices, 
and  endured  great  hardships  and  dangers.  They 
seem  to  have  regarded  any  measures  justifiable 
which  would  assist  in  the  accomplishment  of  their 


TREAT.ME.Vr    OF    THE    NATIVES. 


Ill 


cJierislx'rl  pursuit.  Tlicy  actcfl  us  if  tlu'V  li;ul  a  jusl 
claiMi  to  every,  tlan;^  uliirli  they  foniul  U|);»m  their 
route  —  as  if  the  ahoriiiiiie.s  liad  no  I'ijrhts,  aiu] 
were  destitute  of  all  leeliuir.  Iletjce  they  sei/e<l 
any  Todil,  pearLs,  skins,  or  other  articles  whieli  they 
found,  and  which  they  knew  belonged  to  tiie  natives 
Men  and  women  were  captured,  chained,  and  eouj- 
pelied  to  he  the  .slaves  and  hajriJ^ag-e-bearers  of  the 
Spaniards.  The  caeicjues,  whether  nude  or  female, 
were  ;d>()  seized  and  held  in  captivity  whilst  the 
army  were  passing  through  tlieir  domains,  in  order 
to  secure  the  services  of  their  sid)j(!cts.  If  the  In- 
dians were  detected  in  making  reprisals,  or  re- 
venging themselves,  they  would  be  liorribly  muti- 
lated, by  having  their  bands  and  their  noses  cut  off, 
and  in  that  condition  would  be  sent  borne  to  drag 
out  a  dejfrrided  and  miserable  existence  amonjr  thtir 
friends.  Ravenous  bloodhounds  were  used  to  dis- 
cover and  seize  the  poor  natives  when  they  attemj)ted 
to  secrete  themselves  from  tlieir  unfeeling  pursuers. 
In  some  instances  these  hounds  were  allowed  to  tear 
the  Indians  to  pieces,  as  a  punishment  to  terrify 
others. 

Another  peculiar  feature  of  this  expedition  was 
gten  in  the  maimer  of  their  observance  of  the  Sab- 
bath. Alt!;»>ii};h  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  form  of  worship  were  performed 
Oil  tbit   day,  yet  it  was  on  a  Sunday  tbat  De   Soto, 


;ii'i 

'1i! 


■II''    ^ 


lll'll'- 

i«i"'<i 


,«, 


t: 


$^ 


? 


Ill 


in 

I'i 


li 


142 


SAfLING    DAT. 


with  his  ma<(iiificeiit  army,  sailed  from  St.  Lucas,  in 
Spain,  amid  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  sound  of 
martial  music,  to  touch  at  the  Canary  Islands  on  his 
way  to  Cuba.  It  was  on  Sunday  that  he  departed 
from  the  Canaries.  After  spending  some  time  at 
Cuba,  of  which  he  had  been  appointed  Governor  by 
the  King  of  Spain,  he  set  sail  from  there  on  Sun- 
diiy,  May  18,  in  the  year  155^9.  In  each  instance, 
this  day  was  selected  as  the  time  of  embarkation. 
They  practically  {\dopted  the  maxim,  'The  better 
the  day,  the  better  the  deed." 


.aa  m 


If' 


143 


CHAPTER    XT 


Our  Plan.-— Sir  Martin  Frobisher.  —  Queen.  —  Pinnacled  Coist.— 
Dangers.  —  Men  lost. —  Discouragements  resisted.—  Beaullfl! 
Sight. —  Straits  discovered.  —  Mighty  Deer.  —  Escape  from  In- 
dians.—  Visitors.  —  Boat's  Crew  captured.  —  Frobisher  badly 
off.  —  Decoy  Bell.  —  Man  caught.  —  Tongue  bitten.  —  Reports 
of  Gold.  —  The  black  Stone.  —  Second  Voyage.  —  Gold  seek- 
ing. —  Conflicts.  —  Suspicions  of  a  cloven  Foot.  —  Won)an 
licks  Wounds.  —  Lameness  feigned.  —  Talking  to  a  Picture.— 
Vessels  loaded.  —  Meta  incognito.  —  Third  Voyage.  —  Dogs.  — 
Whales.  —  A  Whale  run  down.  —  Fresh  Water  from  Icohrrgs.  — 
The  Dennis  destroyed.  —  Sudden  Changes. —  Refining  the 
Ore.  —  False  Stories.  —  The  Truth  discovered. 


in 
II I : 
II  I 

mt 

r 
li'i 

H-' 
llil 


As  the  plan  of  this  work  is  based  upon  chrono- 
logical order  in  the  account  of  the  various  explora- 
tions of  the  country,  irrespective  of  the  question 
whether  the  explorers  confined  their  examination  to 
the  coast  or  penetrated  the  interior,  adherence  to 
our  plan  requires  us  now,  though  at  the  hazard  of  an 
apparent  abrupt  transition,  to  part  company  with  the 
Spaniards  at  the  sunny  south,  and  attempt  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  experience  of  the  voyagers  to  our  more 
northern  regions. 

Of  the  different  early  navigators  who  visited  the 
coast  of  North  America,  none  were   more  deter- 


r. ' 
II.' 


iih' 

Hi'. 


,!il  ! 

ilii 


ii^"^^'  ■"'t 


\v 

^F 

:iir 

•;fS 

r 

^ 

(M 

,M 

.H, 

144 


SIR    MARTIN    FROBISHER. 


mined  and  resolute  than  Sir  Martin  Frobislier.* 
Like  many  others  of  his  day,  he  supposed  it  practi- 
cable to  find  a  passage  to  India  and  China  roi'nd 
the  north-west  coast  of  America,  and  he  was  wilUng 
to  undertake  its  discovery.  Though  this  may  not 
have  been  the  only,  nor  the  ostensible  object  of  his 
voyage,  it  was  one.  His  first  voyage  was  made  in 
1576,  with  three  vessels,  two  of  which  were  barks, 
called  the  Gabriel,  Christopher  Hall,  master,  and  the 
Michael,  Matthew  Kinderslye,  master  ;  the  other  a 
pinnace.  Captain  Hall,  who  wrote  an  account  of 
the  voyage,  says  that,  June  8th,  "  we  set  sail,  all 
three  of  us,  and  bore  down  by  the  court,  where  we 
shot  off  our  widnance,  and  made  die  best  show  we 
could  ;  her  majesty  beholding  the  same,  commended 
it,  and  bade  us  farewell  out  of  the  window.  After 
wards  she  sent  a  gentleman  aboard  of  us,  who  de- 
clared that  her  majesty  had  good  liking  of  our 
doings,  and  thanked  us  for  it,  and  also  willed  our 
captain  to  come  the  next  day  to  the  court,  to  take 
his  leave  of  her."  Their  voyage  fairly  commenced 
on  the  11th,  when  they  probably  left  Gravesend, 
and  committed  themselves  to  the  broad  Atlantic, 
On  the  T  1th  of  .Tuly,  the  sun  appearing  to  be  in  the 
south-east,  they  came  in  sight  of  Friesland.  As 
they  neart^d  it,  it,  presented  the  beautiful  but  unin- 

*  New  Eii}flaii<J  Historical  and  Geucalogical  Register,  Januarjr 
1849. 


HIS    VOYAGE. 


145 


he 


In* 


py 


viting  appearance  of  an  immense  iceberj^.  The 
coast  was  studded  with  tall,  steeple-hke  pinnach's, 
having  a  close  resembhuice  to  white  marble,  on  ac- 
count of  the  snow  with  which  they  were  covered. 
The  water  was  so  deep  that  no  soundings  could  he 
obtained.  In  sixty-one  degrees  north  latitude,  Fro 
bisher  attempted  to  land,  but  found  it  impossible,  in 
consequence  of  the  immense  quantities  of  ice  which 
encumbered  the  shore.  The  sea  was  so  fidl  of  it  as 
greatly  to  endanger  the  ships.  But  Frobisher  here 
experienced  more  serious  trojd)les  than  the  ice  occa- 
sioned. A  violent  storni  having  arisen,  he  became  sep- 
arated from  his  pinnace,  which  he  concluded  was  de 
stroyed  by  the  severity  of  the  gale,  by  which  he  lost 
four  men.  I5ut  this  was  not  all,  nor  the  worst.  The 
captain  and  crew  of  the  Michael,  becoming  disheart- 
ened with  the  severities  of  the  voyage,  secretly  escaped 
wi4h  their  vessel  and  returned  home,  carrying  v/ith 
them  the  false  report  that  Frobisher  was  cast  away. 
But  notwithstanding  these  unlooked-for  discourage- 
ments, and  although  his  mast  was  sprung,  his  toj)- 
mast  blown  away,  and  extremely  foul  weather  pre 
vailed,  yet  the  resolute  Frobisher  Cv^ntinued  to  point 
his  prow  to  the  north-west.  On  the  1st  of  August 
he  found  himself  in  the  vicinity  of  a  large  floating 
island  of  ice.  When  the  rays  of  the  sun  fell  upon 
it,  it  presented  a  brilliant  and  magnificent  scene. 
All  the  hues  of  the  rainbow  were  reflected  from  it, 


ii<ii»i 


V 


•f 


146 


FBOBISHER    IN    DANGER. 


giving  to  its  uneven  surface  the  appearance  of  a 
splendid  temple,  profusely  ornamented  with  every 
variety  of  precious  stones.  But  the  next  day  it 
suddenly  fell  to  pieces  with  the  noise  of  thun- 
der. 

On  the  11th  of  August,  in  latitude  sixty-three  de- 
grees and  eight  minutes,  he  discovered  and  entered 
the  straits  which,  from  that  circumstance,  have  ever 
since  been  called  by  his  name.  His  vessel  having 
sprung  a  leak,  he  ran  into  another  sound,  caulked 
her,  and  took  in  a  supply  of  fresh  .rater.  He  then 
continued  his  voyage.  After  sailing  sixty  leagues 
into  the  straits,  he  landed,  and  found  signs  of  recent 
fiire.  The  account  also  states  that  "  he  saw  mighty 
deer,  that  seemed  to  be  mankind,  which  ran  at  him, 
and  hardly  he  escaped  with  his  life  in  a  narrow  way, 
where  he  was  fain  to  use  defence  and  policy  to  save 
his  life.  He  soon  discovered  other  enemies.  Whilst 
walking  about  the  shore,  he  saw  evident  tokens  that 
the  place  was  inhabited.  He  then  ascended  a  hill 
to  see  if  any  dwellings  or  inhabitants  were  in  sigiit. 
From  this  elevated  position  he  saw  at  a  distance  in 
the  sea  dark  objects  moving  about,  which  he  sup- 
posed to  be  porpoises,  seals,  or  some  kind  of  singu- 
lar fish.  But  upon  recoimoitring  them  more  close- 
ly, he  was  equally  surprised  and  gratified  to  perceive 
that  they  were  men  floating  in  small  canoes  of 
leather.     When  he  attempted  to  descend  the  hill,  he 


FIVE    MEN    LOST. 


ir 


•e 


111 
It. 
in 
ip- 


ive 
of 
he 


fbuiid  that  some  of  these  uiicouth-Iookiiig  creaturea 
had  made  it  ahnost  impossible  for  him  to  reach  his 
boat.  They  had  secretly  concealed  tliemselves  be- 
hind the  rocks,  to  intercept  him  on  his  way  to  the 
sea.  He  ran  with  all  speed,  and  with  difficulty 
reached  his  boat  in  sufficient  time  to  push  off  and 
save  it.  He  subsequently  had  various  interviews 
mth  them.  They  came  on  board  his  vessel, 
brouj^fht  salmon,  raw  flesh,  and  fish,  and  devoured 
them  in  the  presence  of  the  captain  and  crew. 
They  amused  themselves  in  handlin<r  the  ropes  and 
climbing  the  rigging,  in  which  they  were  found  to 
be  quite  expert.  They  possessed  strong,  sinewy 
arms  and   nimble   bodies. 

As  their  visits  were  frequently  repeated,  and 
their  conduct  unexceptionabh),  they  secured  the  con- 
fidence and  good  will  of  the  crew.  The  captain 
was  more  suspicious,  and  cautioned  the  men  to  be 
on  their  guard.  His  advice  was  unheeded.  The 
men  probably  thought  that  they  understood  the 
character  of  these  savages  better  than  Frobisher, 
and  therefore  there  was  no  necessity  for  special 
caution.  They  had  occasion,  before  long,  to  repent 
of  their  presumption.  Being  equally  destitute  of 
fear  and  suspicion,  five  of  the  crew  put  off  to  the 
shore  in  the  boat  belonging  to  the  bark.  The  sav- 
ages, in  whom  they  had  so  much  confidence,  seized 
a  favorable   opportunity,  intercepted   the   boat,  and 


'» 
f 


#48 


UNKNOWN    DESTINY. 


'i$ 


Vi 


IN 


the  men  were  never  seen  again.  Wluit  l>ecame  of 
them — whether  they  were  held  in  captivity,  whether 
tliey  made  the  bold  attempt  to  escape  from  this 
rej^ion  of  snow  and  ice  by  huid,  and  })crished  in  the 
attempt,  or  whether  they  were  sacrificed  —  was 
never  known.  Tliey  were  never  heard  of  a;^ain. 
Frohisher  was  now  left  in  a  trying  condition.  One 
of  his  vessels  had  foundered  at  sea,  tlic  other  had 
cowardly  sneaked  off  home,  and  now  five  of  his 
own  crew  had  perished.  lie  scarcely  had  men 
enough  to  navigate  his  vessel.  In  addition  to  this, 
his  boat  was  gone,  so  that  he  had  no  means  of  pur- 
suing the  savages  or  reaching  the  shore.  lie  was 
shut  up  to  the  narrow  limits  of  his  own  deck.  The 
natives  were  aware  of  his  inability  to  leave  his  ves- 
sel, and  they  were  sufficiently  prudent  to  keep 
beyond   reach  of  his  guns. 

It  was  usual  with  those  early  navigators  to  take, 
as  evidences  of  their  discovery,  specimens  of  the 
productions  of  the  coimtrics  visited,  especially  some 
of  the  natives.  No  one  then,  however  evil-minded, 
could  deny  that  the  voyagers  had  been  to  unknown 
lands.  After  the  loss  of  his  boat,  Frohisher  greatly 
regretted  that  he  had  not  seized  some  of  the  sav- 
ages who  had  visited  him  and  retained  them  for  that 
purpose.  Now  that  he  had  mot  with  this  loss,  and 
the  natives  artfully  ke[)t  out  of  his  way,  he  was  fear- 
ful  of   being   obliged   to    return  without   any.     He 


THE    COW-BELL. 


119 


40terniincd  to  resort  to  stratagem.  "  To  deceive 
the  deceivers  lie  wrought  a  pretty  pohcy."  Know- 
ing how  greatly  they  were  delighted  with  hells,  he 
resolved  to  use  one  as  a  decoy  or  hait  to  draw  tluiii 
within  reach.  For  this  purpose  he  brought  on  the  k 
a  showy-looking  cow-bell,  and  rang  it.  The  sav- 
ages made  their  appearance,  hut  kept  at  a  respect  In  I 
distance  After  securing  their  attention,  he  signi- 
fied to  them  by  signs  that  whoever  would  come  and 
get  it  might  have  the  bell.  This  was  a  strong  temp- 
tation.    They  approached   a   little   nearer,   but  not 


Frobishcr  sci/.iii^;  an  Indian. 

wiihin  reaching  distance.      They  were  suspicious  of 
bome  evil  design.     To  ".onvince  them  of  the  sincvritf 


I  nwf' 


I 


I 

11:    .1 

If-    ^ 

I'         e 

•5S 


ii 


It   I 


/  I 


I<1^ 


50 


frobisher's   honors. 


of  his  offer,  Irobisher  now  threw  the  boll  towards 
them,  but  purposely  cast  it  so  that  it  fell  short  of 
them  and  sank  in  the  water.  To  increase  their 
desire,  he  now  rang  a  louder  bell.  Its  merry  tones 
were  too  attractive  for  resistance.  One  of  them 
approached  the  vessel  and  reached  up  his  hand  to 
receive  it.  Frobisher  handed  the  bell  over  the  side 
of  the  bark,  and  then,  letting  it  drop,  suddenly  seized 
the  poor  savage  and  drew  him  by  main  force  on  to 
the  deck,  boat  and  all.  When  the  Indian  found 
liimself  a  prisoner,  so  greatly  was  he  enraged  that, 
"  for  very  choler  and  disdain,  he  bit  his  tongue  in 
Iwain  within  his  mouth." 

After  taking  possession  of  the  country  in  the 
name  of  Queen  Elizabeth  of  England,  and  com- 
manding each  of  his  men  to  take  home  something 
as  evidence  of  the  discovery,  he  commenced  his 
return,  and  safely  arrived  in  England  October  2d, 
1576.  He  was  received  with  great  distinction.  All 
classes  united  in  honoring  the  man  who  had  done 
80  much  towards  the  discovery  of  the  long-looked- 
for  passage  to  India  by  the  north-west  coast  of 
America. 

Another  circumstance  which  contributed  greatly 
towards  the  enthusiastic  reception  of  Frobisher  was 
the  report  that  the  country  which  he  had  discovered 
abounded  with  gold,  specimens  of  which  had  been 
br(»ught    home.       Intelligence    of    this    nature    will 


PSEUDO    GOLD. 


15 


always  make  a  man  popular.  No  one  is  so  highlr 
honored  by  the  populace  as  he  who  reveals  som? 
easy  method  of  obtaininj^  a  fortune.  The  oriinTJ 
of  this  rumor  in  regard  to  Frobisher  seems  to  have 
been  this :  One  of  his  men,  whose  name  was  Hall, 
brought  home,  as  his  evidence  of  discovery,  n  black 
stone  somewhat  resembling  sca-coal.  This  stone 
accidentally  came  into  the  possession  of  a  woman, 
who  threw  it  into  the  nre.  After  it  was  well  heated, 
she  poured  vinegnr  upon  it,  wiien  it  |)res(jnted  a 
bright,  goUlen  color.  Curiosity  was  now  awakened. 
Perhaps  this  yellow,  metallic  aj)pearance  is  caused 
by  gold  !  The  stone  was  next  sent  to  an  assayer 
of  metals,  who  examined  it  and  said  it  contained  a 
large  proportion  of  gold.  One  account  says  that 
he  extracted  from  it  so  great  a  quantity  of  the  pre- 
cious metal  that  they  gave  it  the  name  of  gold  ore. 
This  was  enough  to  excite  the  whole  nation. 

Frobisher  had  not  been  home  long  before  a  second 
voyage  was  planned.  The  discovery  of  a  north- 
west passage  became  suddenly  very  attractive,  now 
that  gold  could  be  picked  up  on  the  way.  So  great 
was  the  number  of  adventurers  who  presented  them 
selves,  that  all  could  not  be  accommodated.  As  the 
voyage  promised  to  be  profitable,  the  government 
took  the  lead  in  it.  By  the  2Gth  of  May,  1577, 
Frobisher  was  ready  for  sea.  lie  was  provided,  as 
beA>re,  with   three  vessels  —  one   belonging  to  th» 


llbM' 


152 


GOLD    SEEKERS. 


I'M  i 


I  ill' 


Queen,  of  two  hundred  tons,  called  the  A}de,  an 
the  two  barks  he  had  before,  the  Gabriel  and  the 
Michael.  The  Ayde  carried  a  hundred  rnen,  of 
whom  thirty  were  gentlemen  and  soldiers,  the  rest 
experienced  sailors.  Just  before  he  started  upon 
this  second  voyage,  Frobisher  was  exalted  by  the  • 
Queen  to  the  high  honor  of  kissing  her  majesty's 
hand. 

Leaving  England  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of 
May,  he  sailed  first  towards  the  Orkney  Islands, 
then  towards  Friesland.  When  near  the  Orkneys 
he  met  vast  quantities  of  driftwood,  all  of  which 
was  driven  by  a  current  in  a  north-easterly  direction. 
Soon  after  leaving  Friesland  he  entered  the  straits 
discovered  by  him  in  the  former  voyage.  He  at 
once  proceeded  to  the  place  where  Hall  picked  up 
his  famous  black  stone  which  was  supposed  to  be 
gold  ore.  It  was  called  Hall's  Island.  Upon  their 
arrival,  many  of  the  company  went  ashore,  among 
whom  were  several  professional  gold  finders,  and 
all  began  to  seek  diligently  for  the  prec'ous  metal. 
But,  alas!  none  could  be  found.  They  a.^o  unfor- 
tunately had  a  collision  with  the  natives,  in  which 
Frobisher  himself  was  wounded,  and  had  a  narrow 
escape  with  his  life.  In  another  conflict  they  killed 
five  or  six  of  the  natives  and  took  two  women  cap- 
tives, one  of  wiioni,  being  so  old  and  ugly,  the  mtj» 
i}ueslion(jd  whether  she  was  a  human  being-     Tlij^ 


DOG-LIKE    REMEDY. 


153 


suspected  that  she  was  a  devil  and  had  a  cloven  foot. 
But  wlien  it  was  uncovered  for  examination  it  was 
found  to  be  formed  just  like  their  own:  Still,  so 
repulsive  did  she  appear  that  they  gave  her  her  lib- 
erty. The  other  was  a  yaung  woman,  with  a  child 
on  her  back.  When  first  discovered,  she  was  taken 
f;»r  a  man,  fired  upon,  and  the  child  was  wounded. 
After  she  was  taken,  the  English  dressed  the  wounds 
of  her  child  and  bound  them  up ;  but  she,  not 
knowing  the  design  of  their  treatment,  tore  oft*  the 
bandages,  removed  the  ointments,  and  with  her  own 
tongue,  in  dog  fashion,  licked  the  wound  well. 
Trobisher  had  previously  captured  a  man,  so  that 
now  he  had  three  natives  on  board  his  vessel. 
Through  these  he  was  enabled  to  have  intercourse 
with  others.  From  them  he  learnt  that  the  five 
men  wlu  v^re  lost  the  preceding  voyage  were  still 
living.  This  was  good  news,  provided  it  should 
prove  true.  The  natives  agreed  to  take  the  cap- 
tives a  letter,  and  to  return  with  their  answer.  A 
note,  dated  August  7th,  was  accordingly  written 
and  committed  to  them.  Frobisher  waited  two 
weeks  for  a  reply,  but  none  came.  It  was  probably 
a  stratagem  on  the  part  of  the  natives,  from  which 
they  hoped  to  derive  some  advantage. 

In  their  conflicts  with  the  EngUsh,  the  Indians 
exhibited  great  resolution  ;  for  when  any  of  them 
were  wounded,  instead  of  allowing  themselves  to  be 


^ 


I' ■  I 
I    " 


I 


it  * 


IE 


i  ! 


irA 


THE    SILKNT    PICTURE. 


taken  prisoners,  they  pliiiigetf  into  the  sea  and  were 
drowned. 

They  practised  different  arts  to  induce  the  Eng- 
lish to  leave  their  boats  and  pursue  them.  One  of 
tijem  pretended  to  be  lame,  and  got  another  to  carry 
him  on  his  back.  But  when  the  English  fired  their 
guns,  the  pretended  cripple  ran  away,  without  linn> 
ing,  as  swiftly  as  the  rest.  By  none  of  their  meth- 
ods could  they  entrap  the  English  so  as  to  take  them 
captives. 

The  one  whom  Frobisher  took  to  England  in  his 
prevj»)us  voyage  died  soon  after  his  arrival.  .  But 
previous  to  his  death  his  ])ortrait  was  painted.  This 
picture  Frobisher  had  suspended  in  the  cabin  of  his 
vessel.  When  the  other  native,  captured  on  the 
second  voyage,  saw  it,  he  supposed  that  it  was  his 
old  friend  returned  alive,  and  addressed  him  as  such  ; 
but  receiving  no  answer,  he  became  offended,  and 
thought  that  the  English  had  it  in  their  power  to 
make  men  live  or  die  at  their  pleasure. 

As  the  season  was  advancing,  and  as  the  "com- 
mission of  Frobisher  was  for  procuring  gold  ore, 
rather  than  the  further  discovery  of  a  passage  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  he  gave  orders  to  load  the  vessels 
with  ore,  as  he  called  it.  Accordingly,  the  men 
went  to  picking  up  stones  and  shovelhng  up  dirtj 
Buch  as  they  ^ould  get,  and  soon  ladened  the  vessels. 
This  was  GJj  an  island  in  Frobisher's  Straits.     On 


UNKNOWN    GOAL. 


153 


the  island  was  a  high  mount.  Some  of  the  com- 
pany ascended  this  mountain,  huilt  lires  on  its  sum- 
mit, and  then  firing,  at  the  command  of  Frohisher, 
a  volley  in  honor  of  Lady  Anne,  Countess  of  War- 
wick, after  wliom  he  named  the  island,  they  set  sail 
for  England,  where  they  arrived,  after  a  tempestuous 
voyage,  with  the  loss  of  only  two  men,  one  from 
sickness,  and  one,  the  master  of  the  Gahriel,  hy 
heing  washed  overboard. 

This  second  voyage  resulted  in  no  profit  nor 
honor.  No  new  discoveries  were  made,  and  no 
precious  metal  was  brought  home.  What  was  sup- 
posed to  be  gold  ore  proved  to  be  nothing  but  worth- 
less stones  and  sand.  Before  this  latter  fact  con- 
cerning the  worthlessness  of  the  ore  was  ascertained, 
another  voyage  was  planned.  TJie  land  which  they 
had  visited  was  called  by  tlie  Queen  Mda  Incognita, 
(The  Unknown  Goal,)  and  she  resolved  to  plant  a 
colony  there,  through  whom  she  probably  expected 
to  compete  with  Spain  in  coining  gold  for  the  circu- 
lating medium  of  the  world. 

Fifteen  ships  were  prepared,  and  one  hundred 
persons  obtained  for  colonists.  It  was  agreed  that 
they  should  remain  in  this  new  El  Dorado  at  least  a 
year,  and  retain  during  that  time  three  of  the  ships; 
the  other  twelve  were  to  return  with  cargoes  of  gold 
ore.  Sir  Martin  Frobisher  was  appointed  admiral 
if  the  fleet.     As  a  token  of  her  special  esteem  and 


i 
1^ 


muf  ' 


150 


DOfiS    TAKKX. 


!  II 


\l  i> 


I 


encourairciiuint,  tlie  Queen  presented  liiin  with  a 
j^old  chain,  and  perniitled  liis  captains  to  kiss  her 
hand. 

Tliis  flL'et  of  fifteen  sail  commenced  their  vova<re 
from  llarwicli  the  last  of  May,  1578.  Tlicy  had  a 
cold,  stormy  |)assa<re.  On  the  20th  of  June  tliey 
discov(M'ed  West  Friesland,  to  whicli  tliey  gave  tlie 
name  of  West  En(^!and.  Frohisher  went  on  shore 
and  took  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  her  majesty, 
Queen  Ehzaheth  of  Enirland.  lie  found  huts  wliosc 
construction  and  furniture  were  similar  to  those  he 
saw  in  Meta  incojruita.  So  soon  as  the  inhahitants 
saw  tlie  strangers,  they  fled.  The  houses  were 
searciied,  and  in  them  were  found  a  small  box  with 
little  iron  nails,  some  pickled  herrings,  some  well- 
cut  deal  hoards,  and  other  articles,  from  which  it 
w^as  inferred  tliat  these  people  either  traded  with 
some  civilized  nation  or  else  had  made  considerable 
proficiency  in  manufactures  themselves.  About 
these  huts  they  saw  some  dogs,  two  of  which  they 
appropriated  to  themselves,  leaving  for  them,  how- 
ever, a  mimber  of  presents,  consisting  of  sm.iU 
bells,  looking-glasses,  and  other  cheap  toys.  Many 
whales  were  seen  cutting  the  deep-green  water  with 
their  dark  backs,  and  throwing  up  in  various  direc- 
ions  Utile  fountains  in  the  air.  They  were  in 
schools,  like  porpoises.  One  of  the  ships,  the  Sal- 
amander, when   under   full  sail,  with  a  fair  windt 


ADVENTURE    OF    A    WHALE. 


157 


^11 


m 


struck  one  of  these  liuffc  leviath.ins  witli  such  force 
tliat  it  seemed  hke  strikinj^  a  rock.  The  projjjrcsa 
of  the  sliij)  was  entirely  stopped.  The  whale  made 
a  hideous  noise,  rose  ahuost  entirely  out  of  water, 
and  then  plunj^ed  again  into  the  deep.  Two  days 
afler  this,  a  large  whale  was  seen  floating  upon 
the  sea,  dead,  which  was  supposed  to  be  the  one 
struck  by  the  Sfdamander.  John  Reinhold  Forster, 
in  alluding  to  the  power  of  a  ship  under  full  sail 
being  sufficient  to  kill  one  of  these  creatures,  relates 
the  following  circumstance  :  "  I  remember,  in  our 
voyage  roinid  the  world,  that  one  day  several  whales 
appearing  Jibout  our  vessel,  while  some  of  these  un- 
wieldy animals  amused  themselves  with  diving  under 
the  water  on  one  side  of  her  and  coming  up  again 
on  the  other,  the  ship  in  her  course  grazed  against 
the  back  of  one  of  them,  which,  in  pursuing  these 
gambols,  had  probably  not  gone  deep  enough  ;  for 
when  it  came  up  on  the  other  side,  the  whole  sea 
was  immediately  dyed  red  witli  its  blood,  though  at 
the  same  time  we  had  but  a  very  moderate  breeze, 
and  the  direction  taken  by  the  whale  went  right 
across  the  motion  of  tlie  ship.  Now,  had  w^e  been 
sailing  before  the  wind  with  a  stiff  gale,  and  at  the 
^ame  time  the  whale  had  met  us  in  a  direct  line,  its 
death  would  have  been  unavoidable." 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  at  Frobisher's  Straits, 
it* was  foil  d  impossible  to  enter,  in  consequence  of 
14 


IBM* 


,.:i 


:0 

Of 


■JBniiTnnifiagMn 


158 


DANG E nous    ICEBERGS. 


':  V 


I) 


tlie  ji^rcat  quantities  of  ice  which  ohstriicted  their 
course.  Althonuli  tlie  sea  was  as  salt  tliere  as  in 
any  other  part  of  tlie  ocean,  yet,  when  the  floatinj^ 
ice  found  a  hundred  miles  from  land  was  melted,  it 
yielded  water  as  fresh  as  though  it  had  heen  frozen 
U|)()n  some  inland,  fresh-water  lake.  No  salt  tasto 
wiiatever  could  he  perceived.  Some  of  it  was 
melted  to  supply  the  men  with  fresh  water  to  dnnk. 
As  the  icel)er<Tfs  were  continually  chanj^inji^  their 
position,  and  were  t«>ssed  about  by  the  waves  and 
currents,  they  occiisioned  the  fleet  much  trouble  to 
keep  clear  of  them.  Much  of  the  tin;;;  dense  foijs 
and  thick  snow  storms  j)revailed,  which  prevented 
them  from  discovcrinj^  these  lloatini^  mountains  of 
ice  until  they  were  almost  upon  them,  and  then 
{Treat  presence  of  niiiid,  skill,  and  str<!n<!th  were  ne- 
cessary to  extricate  themselves  iVoni  the  sudden  peril. 
Sometimes,  several  of  these  i(.'el)er«;s  would  be  float- 
iu^js;  around  the  ships  in  diireront  directions,  by 
which  the  danj^er  was  jrreatlv  increased.  In  some 
cases,  escape  is  impossible.  One  of  the  vessels  of 
Frobisher's  company,  the  bark  Dennis,  struck  one 
of  these  unwelcome  visitors  with  such  fi.rce  as  to 
be  unable  afterwards  to  krep  above  water.  So 
soon  as  the  extent  of  the  injury  was  ascertained, 
the  caj)tain  ordered  alarm  <»inis  to  be  fired,  so  that 
some  other  vessel  of  the  fleet  might  km)w  thei  dan- 
ger and  send  thon   relief     Fortunately,  those  guna 


FHORISllF.il  S     UKSOI.rTION. 


159 


of 

one 

to 

So 

led, 

that 

IliUt- 

runs 


were  lieard,  and  brought  assistance.  The  crew  were 
all  removed  froiu  the  sliatfered  vessel,  and  soon  after 
she  went  to  pieces.  This  proved  to  lie  a  serious 
loss,  and  materially  altered  the  subsequent  proeeed- 
illJ,^s  of  the  company.  On  board  of  this  vessel  was 
the  frame  of  a  house  which  was  to  have  been 
erected  for  the  residence  of  the  colonists,  and  Jilso 
the  stores  and  provisions  which  they  were  to  use. 
Tlieir  loss  defeated  the  settlement. 

The  admiral  now  sent  the  Gabriel  into  an  iidet, 
and  ascertained  the  possibility  of  reaching,  in  that 
direction,  Frobisher's  Straits.  He  also  explored  the 
numerous  islands  in  that  vicinity,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  murmuring  spirit  of  his  men,  and  the  dan- 
gers of  another  Greenland  storm  which  came  furi- 
ously down  upon  him,  he  resolutely  persevered  until 
he  reached  in  safety  Warwick  Sound.  lie  went  on 
shore  and  searched  for  mines.  He  found  that, 
though  this  was  one  of  the  bleakest  and  coldest 
countries  in  the  worM,  yet  in  the  valleys  the  air  was 
sometimes  astonishingly  hot.  It  continued  so,  how- 
ever, only  a  short  time.  When  the  wind  blew  over 
fields  of  ice,  it  suddei  ly  changed  this  heat  into  the 
most  pix'^rcing  cold. 

During  this,  as  in  his  former  voyages,  Frobishei 
found  the  inhabitants  extremely  shy.  Evidence:  of 
their  own  skill,  or  of  their  intercourse  with  civilized 
nations,  were  furnished  by  iron  bars,  dart-heads  of  the 


11 


KM'-  ■  ; 


jJT"     TPB 


IGO 


sf.pvuation'  of  tiik  fleet. 


•    li 


!IH 


same  niotal,  noodles  with  four  square  points,  and 
coj)i)cr  buttons  for  forehead  ornaments,  whioh  were 
found  amon<^  them.  They  also  had  kettles  of  stone, 
which  exhibited  much  injj^enuity.  In  one  place,  a 
house  was  seen,  built  of  lime  and  stone,  and  also  an 
oven.  Dofjfs  were  used  to  draw  their  luj^jjfage  over 
the  ice.  Fires  were  kindled  by  the  friction  caused 
by  rubbing  two  sticks  together,  a  practice  which  was 
generally  ado[   cd  by  Indians  all  over  the  continent. 

Three  of  the  vessels,  having  become  separated 
from  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  had  been  long  at  sea  with- 
out being  hoard  from.  Whether  they  had  perished, 
or  had  returned  to  England  like  the  Michael  in  the 
former  voyage,  or  had  kept  out  to  sea  to  avoid  dan- 
ger, was  unknown.  On  the  other  hand,  the  vessels 
which  wore  missed  knew  not  where  to  find  the  rest  of 
the  fleet  from  v,  Iu(;h  they  were  severed.  They,  how- 
ever, after  much  difticulty  from  the  ice,  made  a  har- 
bor. But  Frobishcr  was  not  there.  As  their  vessels 
wore  damaged  by  the  severity  of  the  voyage,  they  con- 
cluded to  bestow  upon  them  necessary  repairs,  and 
then  to  put  togotlu'r  a  pinnace,  the  framework  of 
whioh  llioy  brought  with  them,  and  in  that  to  search 
for  their  admiral.  Thoy  did  so,  and  wore  success- 
ful in  finding  him.  Croat  was  the  joy  of  the  two 
parties  when  thoy  met. 

As  the  winter  season  was  now  approaching  when 
tiiey  had  reason  to  expect  that  the  inlets  and  straits 


m 


REFINING    THE    ORE. 


161 


In 


would  be  completely  blocked  up  uitli  ice,  and  far- 
ther explorations  would  be  inip<»>.'^il)le,  Frobii?ber 
began  his  j)reparations  to  return.  A>i  the  house  and 
the  provisions  desij;fned  for  the  colonit^ts  were  de- 
stroyed with  the  Deiuiis,  it  was  considered  inexj)e- 
dient  for  any  of  the  people  to  remain.  Nothing 
further,  therefore,  could  be  done  but  to  load  the  ves- 
sels with  the  precious  metals,  and  return.  A>!says 
were  made  of  different  kinds  of  ore  found  in  two 
different  places,  and  all  the  vessels  were  ladened 
with  large  quantities  of  both. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  at  home,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  begiiming  of  October,  1578,  the  ore 
was  carefully  deposited  in  the  Queen's  storehouse  on 
Tower  Hill,  that  being  a  place  of  great  safety.  Ex- 
tensive arrangements  were  then  made  for  assaying 
and  refining  it.  Large  works  were  erected,  and  the 
most  experienced  men  were  obtained  for  this  pur- 
pose. Of  course,  the  curiosity  of  the  nation  was 
awakened  to  know  the  result.  All  were  in(|uiring 
what  amount  of  gold  was  obtained.  Stories  were 
invented  sufliciently  marvellous  to  excite  the  admira- 
tion of  the  credulous.  vSo  extravagant  were  the  re- 
ports concerning  the  richness  of  the  ore,  that  Holin- 
shed,  an  historian  of  th;it  day,  recorded  it  as  his  sober 
opinion  that  that  nuist  have  been  the  place  where 
King  Solomon  in  anciciit  times  obtained  his  vast 
qua.itities  of  g(>id.  Hut  deception  could  not  long 
14* 


i 
''it 


m>. 


DECEPTION    DISCOVERED. 


•(i 


<« 


!V 


continue  in  a  case  like  tliis.  It  was  too  expensive 
an  operation.  In  process  of  time  the  illusion  slowly 
vanished  —  the  huhble  hurst.  It  appears  thfit,  when 
the  parties  concerned,  found  that  the  great  quantity 
of  dirt  which  they  had  on  hand,  amountinjr  to  ni<u'e 
than  thirteen  hundred  tons,  was  perfectly  valueless 
as  ore,  heing  desirous  to  escape  the  popular  odium 
which  they  knew  would  be  heaped  upon  them  when 
the  truth  should  become  known,  caused  the  report 
to  be  circulated  that  the  rubbish  actually  contained 
a  large  amount  of  gold. 

After  this,  Frobisher  was  employed  in  various 
naval  expeditions  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  and 
finally  died  from  a  wound  received  in  an  engage- 
ment with  the  French,  in  an  attack  upon  Fort  Cro- 
zon.  His  discoveries  were  confined  to  Greenland 
ind  the  region  about  the  entrance  jf  Hudson's  Bay. 


Wms 


1G3 


CHATTER    XII. 


Sir  Francis  Drake.  —  Visits  Californivi.  —  San  Francisco  — Siii- 
gnlar  Conduct. —  Iinposinjij  Visit. —  Supposed  Coronation.— 
Professing-  Allegiance.  —  The  Californians.  —  Drake  takes  Pos- 
session.—  Visits  Florida.  —  St.  Augustine.  —  A  French  Cap- 
tive.—  Spaniards  floe.  —  Death  of  Powell.  —  The  Town  de- 
stroyed.—  Drake  visits  Virginia.  —  Raleigh's  Colony. —  New 
Calamity.  —  The  Colony  disheartened. —  Their  Interpretation 
of  Providence.  —  They  are  taken  home.  —  Governor  Lane.  — 
Tobacco  introduced  into  Endand. 


II 

I* 


The  voyages  to  Noitli  America  of  which  we  have 
thus  far  given  an  account  were  confined  to  an  ex- 
ph>ration  of  its  eastern  cotist.  Of  tlie  character  of 
its  western  cojtst  Europeans  were  ignorant.  After 
Frohisher  had  completed  his  first  voyage,  another 
bokl  navigator  set  sail  from  England,  for  the  jHirpose 
of  examining  the  west  coast  of  America  and  cir- 
ciminavigating  the  globe  :  this  was  Sir  Francis 
Drake.  Omitting  all  account  of  his  previous  voy- 
ages to  other  parts  of  the  world,  it  will  l)e  in  har- 
mony with  the  design  of  this  volume  if  we  com- 
mence our  account  of  him  from  the  time  of  his  vis- 
iting Aguajudco,  or  Acapidco,  on  the  south-western 
coast  of  Mexico,  which  was  April  ir»tji,  L'iTT.  He 
had  coasted  down  the  eastern  side  of  South  Atnerica; 
sailed  through  the  Straits  of  MageUan  ;  been  driven, 


ill' 
/'» 

i:    • 
ft' 


a  I 


164 


DRAKE    DISCOVERS    S\N    FRANCISCO. 


•m 


U  tr 


by  uiifavoral)le  wiiuls,  south  of  Ca|)e  ITorn,  the  ex* 
tremc  ])()int  of  Soutli  Aincritra,  and  had  coursed  his 
^vay  up  the  western  coast  as  far  as  Acapulco. 

Leaviuf^  this  port,  Drake  penetrated  fartiier  north, 
until  the  cold  became  so  severe,  and  f^ave  the  men 
so  much  annoyance,  especially  in  freezing  the  rcpes 
and  hindering  the  nuuiagement  of  the  vessel,  as  to 
occasion  great  complaints.  lie  sailed  as  far  as  the 
48th  degree  of  latitude,  near  Vancouver's  Island, 
where  he  found  a  harbor.  But  dense  fogs,  sudden 
flaws,  and  violent  tempests,  prevented  him  from 
tarrying  there  very  long.  His  men  being  strongly 
opposed  to  proceeding  farther  north,  and  the 
wind  being  against  him,  he  concluded  to  run  down 
the  coast  to  the  neii»hborhood  of  the  38th  de- 
gree  of  north  latitude,  where  he  found  another 
harbor,  which  Mr.  Burney,  hi  his  "  South  Sea 
Discoveries,"  says  there  can  be  but  little  doubt 
was  San  Francisco.  The  country  was  inhabited, 
and  many  of  the  natives  had  erected  their  huts 
close  by  the  water.  On  approaching  this  har- 
b  >r,  they  saw  a  .'tingle  native  coming  off  to  tliem  in 
a  canoe,  who,  when  he  came  within  speaking  dis- 
tance, made  a  long  address  to  them,  and  then,  with 
marks  of  great  reverence,  returned  to  the  shore. 
What  the  address  was,  whether  it  was  made  up  of 
threats,  information,  or  offers  of  submission,  they 
knew   not,   as    they   were    unacquainted  with    tho 


i!  '-' 


EXPRESSION'S    OF    FIITF.NDSHIP. 


U}5 


l!m«]^iia're.      Tlic  vrssci   havin<r  !*j)niii<r  a  IcnU,  it  >va3 
iiccessarv    to    liiihtcn    licr,   in    orth-r    to   repair   licr. 
Tents  were  raised  on   the   shore  lor  th(!  men,  inul    a 
rude  fort  constructed   lor  the  protection  of  the  stores 
and  car«^o.      The  natives  h>oked  on  from  a  tlistanee, 
not  knowing  what  these  thinj^s  meant.      IJy  and   by 
tliey  came  down  armed,  in  great  nmnbcrs,  but  gave 
no  evidence  of  hostile  design.     Tliey  were  ordered, 
by  sigrjs,  to  lay  down  their  bows  and  arrows,  and  at 
once   complied.     The    admiral,  in   order  to  secure 
their  good  will,  gave  them  a   number  of  presents  of 
European  manufacture.      In   return,  they   presented 
him  with  articles  of  their  own   handiwork,  and  also 
some  feathers  and  skins.     At  niglit  they  withdrew  to 
their  own  village,  about  a  mile  distant.     They  there 
made    demonstrations    of   a   most   noisy  cluiraeter  ; 
the  women,  especially,  shrieked  in  a  terrific  manner, 
as  if  they  ex|)ectcd  to   be   led   to  captivity  or  death. 
For  two  days  after   this,  none  of  them  came   near 
the  English  ;  but  on  the  third  day  a  company  pre- 
sented themselves,  mucb  more   numerous  than  those 
who  first  appeared.     One  of  them,  who  was  prob- 
ably a  chief  sp(!aker  among  them,  delivered   a   long 
address.      When    he   had    finished,   the   whole    com- 
pany   laid    down   their   weapons,   and   came   to    Jie 
English    camp.       Judging     from    their    conduct,    it 
would  seem  that  the  women   had   no  sympathy  with 
the  proceedings  of  the  ineu.     They  made  d(>lefu. 


11) 

Ilk 
II 


166 


INTERKSTINT.    VISIT. 


I 


Ik 

III 


lamentations,  tore  tlie  flesh  from  tl>eir  cheeks,  and 
appeared  to  be  overwhehned  with  sorrow.  Perhaps, 
however,  this  was  their  method  of  fj^ivinj]^  more  in- 
tense expression  to  tiie  same  feehngs  as  those  of  the 
men. 

The  EngHsh  suspected  that  they  were  about  to 
offer  a  sacrifice.  Wliereupon  the  admiral,  with  his 
company,  eng^aji^ed  in  prayer,  and  in  tlie  reading  of 
tlie  Bible  to  them,  to  wliich  the  natives  gave  good 
attention,  and  seemed  much  impressed  by  it ;  but 
when  they  cfime  to  the  English,  they  restored  the 
gifts  which  they  had  previously  received  from  them. 
Presently  the  King  himself  made  his  appearance,  ac- 
companied by  many  of  his  followers,  of  stately  and 
warlike  appearance,  and  painted  in  various  colors. 
His  Indian  nicijesty  was  preceded  by  two  ambassa- 
dors, who  came  to  announce  his  approach.  Their 
address  continued  about  an  hour,  at  the  end  of 
which  the  King  advanced,  surrounded  with  all  the 
trapi)ings  of  royalty  at  his  command.  During  his 
stately  march  to  the  English  camp,  the  followers 
who  composed  his  train  "  cried  continually,  after  a 
singing  manner,  with  a  lusty  courage.  As  they  drew 
nearer  and  nearer,  so  did  they  more  and  more  strive 
to  behave  themselves  with  a  certain  comeliness  and 
gravity  in  all  their  actions." 

So  friendly  was  the  manner  of  their  approach, 
that  Drake,  being  disarmed  of  all  suspicions,  gave 


\f*, 


SIGNIFICANT    CERE;40NY. 


167 


orders  for  tlieir  admission  Avitliin  the  enclosure  of 
die  camp  witlioul  iiiterrii|)tioii.  Tliey  entered  the 
fort  with  sonjjs  and  dances.  Durinji"  the  continuance 
of  the  festivity,  the  Kino- approaclied  the  achniral  with 
singin"',  and,  with  the  consent  of  all  the  rest,  placed 
upon  his  head,  with  jjreat  reverence,  an  ornamented 
feathered  cap,  as  if  it  were  ati  act  of  conjiuition, 
threw  over  his  neck  many  chains  helonjiinur  to  his 
followers,  presented  many  other  thinjis  as  fjifts,  and 
then  ji^rceted  him  with  the  salutation,  Iliu/i,  which 
the  En«^lish  supposed  was  either  his  own  name  or 
else  the  Indian  title  for  Kinii:.  They  then  added 
what  was  siij)|)osed  to  he  a  sonii'  and  dance  of  tri- 
um|)li.  The  women,  not  satisfied  with  sonf»;s  and 
dances,  tore  their  laces  and  hrcasts  until  they  were 
horrihiy  distijrured  with  wounds  and  bliKxI. 

The  ceremony  of  coronation  which  we  have  de- 
scrihed  was  interpr('t(;d  hy  Drake  as  a  ionnal  and  otli- 
cial  a«*knowled«inient  of  allejiiance  to  him,  by  which 
the  King  resigned  himself,  his  pcojile,  and  all  their 
lands,  into  his  hands,  and  bound  themselves  and  all 
their  posterity  to  become  his  subjects.  In  reply, 
Drake  gave  them  to  understand,  as  well  as  he  was  able, 
that  he  accepted  them  and  their  lands  in  the  name 
and  for  the  use  of  her  majesty  Queen  Fdi/abeth  of 
England.  It  is  very  uncertain  whether  the  interpre- 
tation of  the  admiral  was  corr(!ct.  The  ceremony 
of  the   Indians  was    undoubtedly   an    e.xpresj^ion  of 


'ill 


SB* 


;VM 


108 


STIlENnTII    OF    THE    NATIVES. 


t 


m. 


lit 


iSS; 


n 


If* 


i' 

1, 

.'.» 

1 

^'    1 

il 

J 

great  r(;i5[>oct  and  reveronce  for  tlic  Fin^:li.si  ;  hut  it 
seems  <iiiite  ii]i|)r<>l>;»l)le  that  they  shoiiM  voluntarily 
have  olVercd  thcinselve.s,  their  lands,  and  tliiir  pos- 
terity to  these  stran<;j(!rs,  witliout  rcceivinj;^,  or  even 
asking,  any  ecjuivahnit.  Such  an  act  is  not  in  liar- 
mony  with  Indian  character. 

These  people  are  descrihed  as  teachahle,  confid- 
inj(,  and  aniiahle,  destitute  of  du])Ucity,  treachery, 
and  revenj^e.  Their  bows  and  arrows  were  com- 
paratively harmless,  being  weak,  and  more  appropri- 
ate for  children  than  adults.  Yet  the  men  were 
unusually  strong.  A  burden,  which  two  or  three  of 
the  English  found  it  diificult  to  lift,  one  of  them 
would  carry  over  a  rough  road,  up  hill  and  down,  a 
long  distance.  It  was  observed  also  that,  although 
they  had  never  heard  the  apostolic  injunction, 
*'  Wives  obey  your  husbands,"  yet  the  women  were 
very  obedient  and  serviceable  to  those  whom  they 
had  married. 

Before  the  admiral  left  this  place,  he  erected  a 
post,  or  column,  on  which  he  fastened  a  brass  plate, 
contfaning  the  date  of  his  arrival,  the  voluntary 
prolfer  of  the  country  by  the  King  and  people  to 
him,  with  his  own  name  underneath.  He  also  had 
skilfully  set  in  the  j)late  a  current  English  sixpence, 
on  which  were  impressed  the  picture  and  coat  of 
arms  of  her  majesty.  In  this  manner  he  left  evi- 
dence of  having  taken  formal  possession  of  the 
place  in  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth  of  England. 


NF.W    AI.RIOV. 


I  Oil 


!0 

a 

c, 
iry 

to 
lad 

B, 
..f 

;vi- 
the 
lid. 


As  .1  toUni  of  rcs|K'(t  t«»  his  own  country,  and 
nl.so  l)<'rjin.s(;  lie  had  ohserved  on  (lifV«'rciit  parts  of 
tliis  coast  wliitc  chlls  similar  to  th<ts(!  on  the  coast 
of  |-in*>hiii(l,  he  caMrd  all  the  land  lie  iiad  liere  seen 
New  All)i«>n. 

•  Al'ter  remaininjif  in  this  port  thirty-six  days,  re- 
pairin<r  his  ships  and  cnltivatinir  friendly  relations 
with  the  natives,  Drake  ajrain  put  to  s(;a.  The  In- 
(hans  appear  to  have  parted  with  him  with  reirr(;t, 
and  to  have  wished  for  his  speedy  return.  They 
ran  upon  the  hills,  kindled  iires,  and  kept  tiieni 
hurninjj^  all   the   lime   that   he  was  in   si^^ht. 

After  h-avint;  the  we-stern  coast  of  Xorth  America, 
Drake  pursued  his  voya«ie,  ami  was  the  first  who 
circumnavi^'ated  the  glohe. 

At  a  sid)se«inent  period,  he  aj^ain  visit<'d  this  coun- 
try. Ife  approached  it  from  tin;  West  Indies  on  the 
eastern  side.  On  the  2^\\\  of  May,  15S),  Ik;  dis- 
covered on  the  coast  of  Florida  a  rude  scatVold,  sup- 
ported on  four  j)oles,  having  the  appearance  of  an 
ohservatory.  As  no  one  on  hoard  could  give  any 
account  of  its  iiistory,  he  manned  his  pinnaces  and 
went  on  shore  to  discover  who  held  it.  Passing  up 
the  liiver  St.  Augustine,  he  came  to  a  fort  newly 
erected  hy  the  Spaniards,  hut  not  (]uit«'  finished, 
called  the  Fort  of  St.  .luan  de  l*inos.  ^^'h<'n  the 
Spaiiiards  saw  the  English  approaching,  they  ahan- 
doned  the  work  and  fled  as  rapidly  as  po.-sihle  to 
15 


170 


C'OWAUDr.Y    SPANIARDS. 


m 


the  town  of  St.  A»i«rnstiiu!,  wliicli  cortnined  a  jr.'ir- 
risoM  of  one  lniiidrcd  and  fifty  nion.  The  next  day 
tlic  Ivij^lish  laiuh'd,  and  inarched  to  the  fort  wliich 
protected  tl»e  town,  for  the  purpose  of  storminfj  it. 
As  tliey  approached,  they  eotdd  discover  no  one  there 
to  defend  it.  IVrhaps  tin;  oanison  are  concealed, 
in  orchr  to  throw  the  Enghsli  oft'  their  jrtiard.  Per- 
haps they  are  in  and)ush,  and  will  sndderdy  fire  upon 
their  liank  or  rear.  The  storming  party  advance 
very  cautiously.  Not  a  sword,  musket,  nor  feather 
can  they  see.  They  enter  the  fort ;  hut  no  one  is 
there.  They  have  all  Hed.  On  a  ])latform,  con- 
structed of  lari^c  pine-trees,  were  fourteen  pieces  of 
larjj^i!  hrass  ordnance.  But  the  Spaniards  tested  the 
calihre  of  none  of  them.  They  fled  without  firiiij^ 
a  sinj^le  hall.  Upon  exaniininjr  the  ])lace,  the  attack- 
ing l)arty  discovered  a  Frenchman,  a  fifer,  who  had 
heen  held  hy  the  S])aniards  a  j)risoner.  lie  informed 
the  Fiiiglish  that  the  Spaniards  fled  in  such  haste  as 
to  leave  hehind  them  a  chest  containinjj  two  thou- 
sand  jiounds  in  money.  The  English  now  ])rcssed 
on  to  the  town.  The  Spaniards  mustered  suflicient 
courage  to  Are  a  i\iw  shot  at  them,  and  then,  having 
no  hlood  to  spare,  they  ran  away.  Anthony  Powell, 
a  sergeant-mi'.jor,  leaping  upon  one  of  the  horses 
they  had  left  Ixdiind,  pursued  them  over  ground 
which  was  covered  with  long  grass.  His  rashness 
led    him    too    far   in    advance    of  his   company.      A 


ST.    AUG  I :  STINK    OKSTUOYKn. 


171 


as 


>va 


•lit 

-'11, 
[scs 

Imcl 


less 


Sjmniard  wlio  liad  concealed  liims<;ir  in  tlie  irrasa 
tired  at  liiin  and  shot  liiiii  tliroiii>li  the  h<'ad,  and 
then  pierced  iiis  body  with  many  uonnds.  Tho 
(lovernor  of  the  place  iiad  retired  to  St.  Alalheo, 
leavinj;  not  a  .sin}»le  inhabitant  u  the  town.  Drake 
noticed  that  St.  Auj^astino  appeared  to  he  in  a  pros- 
perous condition.  Ainon;^  other  edifices  it  contained 
a  town-house  and  church,  and  was  ornamented  witii 
a  innnher  of  gjirdens ;  but  all  these  nieasant  thin«jfg 
were  burnt  and  laid  waste  by  the  En<;  Jsh,  in  re\'en"e 
for  tiie  death  of  Major  l*owel!. 

It  was  Drake's  intention  to  have  visited  an«)tlier 
Spanish  settlement,  about  thirty  miles  fartiier  on, 
called  St.  Helena,  and  to  have  dotroyed  that  also  ; 
but  the  weather  beinij,'  unfavorablf;,  and  the  shoald 
danj^erous,  it  was  considered  advisable  to  relin([uisli 
the  attemjjt,  especially  as  he  had  no  pilot  who  was 
accjuainted  with  the  chamiel. 

Abandoning"  this  design,  Sir  Francis  Drake  pro- 
ceeded farther  north,  in  search  of  Sir  Walter  Ra- 
leigh's colony,  which  had  recently  been  planted  in 
V^irginia.  lie  had  received  orders  from  her  majesty 
the  Queen,  before  his  departure  from  England,  to 
extend  to  this  infant  settlement  every  encouragement 
and  assistance  in  his  power.  He  found  the  shore 
inaccessible  on  account  of  shoals,  and  was  there- 
fore obliged  to  anchor  in  an  open,  exposed  situa* 
tion,  two   miles   from    land.     To    Mr.  Ralph  Lane, 


3 


:ii' 


<lll»« ' 


\m 


I  II 


172 


RALKIGH  S    COLONY. 


GoveriKir  of  tlic  colony,  who  was  tlion  at  his  fori  in 
Iloaii(>ke,  lie  s(.'iit  an  oUct  of  assistance  and  supplies. 
Tlie  (jovernor,  with  some  of  his  men,  visited  the 
t^dmiral,  and  recjuested  hinj  to  furnish  the  colony 
with  more  men  and  j)rovisions,  and  also  a  si. jail 
vessel  and  boats,  so  that,  if  an  extremity  should 
occur  they  mif^ht  be  able  to  return  to  Enjjland.  In 
compliance  with  their  recjuest,  the  admiral  immedi- 
ately fitted  up  one  of  his  ships  and  bountifully  sup- 
plied it  with  all  manner  of  stores  for  their  use.  A 
fstorm  now  Jirose,  which  drove  that  ship  and  some 
others  out  to  sea,  and  Drake  did  not  see  them  a^ain 
till  his  return  home.  lie  now  ])roposed  to  furnish 
another  of  his  ships  for  thoir  use.  But  the  Governor 
nnd  his  colonists,  havini!;  passed  through  many  hard- 
ships, had  become  (juite  disheartened.  And  now 
that  this  recent  calamity  had  been  visited  u|)on  them, 
and  the  j)romised  stores  from  I'in<;Iand  had  faihnl, 
they  construed  it  into  an  ex])re.ssion  of  the  disa|)pro- 
bation  of  Providence  of  th(.'ir  design  to  establish  a 
coh»ny.  After  nnitual  consultation  among  them- 
Sidves,  they  requested  Sir  Francis  Drake  to  remove 
them  from  the  coast  and  take  them  home.  When 
they  landed  in  Virginia,  their  number  was  one  hun- 
dred and  eight;  it  was  reiluced  to  one  hundred 
and  three,  all  <d'  whom  now  endiarked  in  the  fleet 
of  the  admiral  for  liUgland.  Mr.  Lane,  the  Gov- 
ernor  of    his  colonv,  is   said  to  have  been  the   first 


ORICTN    OF    TORACCO. 


173 


now 


u'ln, 
ilcil, 
)pro- 
isli    'A 
llu-m- 

11H»VC 
IVIUMI 


u 


licet 


(iov- 
fu>t 


wlio  iiitrodiict'd  tobacco  iiilo  Kii^ilajul  as  an  article 
for  iisc.  It  derived  ils  name  iVoni  the  Islaiul  of 
TohaLTo,  (Ml  wliicdi  it  was  llrst  lound.  Sir  Waller 
Ivnlciuli  accustomed  liimscll'  to  its  nsc,  and  tiirou^ii 
liis  example  ami  intlu<'n<-e  it  soon  hcc.anu;  a  fashion 
alile  |)racti<;e  at  the  English  court  and  iu  the  circjea 
of  the  nobility. 

15  • 


174 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


ife 
m   ... 


! 


2  * 

to      '    " 


explain  Jolin  Davis. —  C«rrat  lioariii'r.  —  lis  Canst  — Land  ol 
Ocsolafloii.  —  Haiiil  of  Mii>ir. —  Its  IllVi-cl.  —  Fri('ii<!ly  Alli- 
ance. —  licar-liuiitinf;'.  —  Mistake  alxuit  Doi^-;.  —  l)a\  i>'s  Dis- 
rovorics.  —  .\inuN<Mii<'iil^.  —  ('li.iiiiije  in  the  N.'itives. —  IJlu^- 
leader  taken.  —  Iiuerestinj^  I'lienonieiion.  —  Cianic.  —  tSeciel 
Ailurk.  —  Sun  shines  Iweniv-luur  Hours. —  Fat  Do^s.  —  >St:i;j 
Jliint.  —  'I'Im!  ."Maniuis  de  hi  Kociie. — SaMe  I>land  Snll'erer}:.— 
Captain  Geor^-c  Wevnumth. —  I'lesli  W.ucr  tioni  Icehern's. — 
Elleot  ol"  \iv  u\H)\\  llie  \'i'>sel.  —  Sailors  a|i|)allecl.  —  They  niii- 
tiiiy.  —  M 'yniniiiii  yi»  Ids.  —  I  Ic  s;iil.>  Souili.  —  I'iiid^  an  liilri.  — 
IVain.  —  (iii-at  Storm.  —  Ills  IJci urn.  —  I'arllioloniew  (iovnoid.  — 
Indians  with  an  l!iiro|iean  Sliall<i|).  —  Ca|ie  < 'od  di.sco\«Ted. — 
A  perpetual  N.'uno.  —  lOlizabelli  Llaiid.  —  A  Colony. —  lis 
f'wid.  —  Its  Ruins. 

CoNTKMi'OHANKois  With  Sir  rraiici.s  Dniko  WHS 
aiiollit'r  (lislijiuiiislitMl  iiavi^tilor,  \vli(»  lias  siiccr't'dcd 
in  ijni)n'rfsin<»"  liis  iiaiiu;  ii|Hm  tlio  trnilory  <it"  iIm' 
IR'W  v'orld.  'I'iii.s  was  Captain  .loliii  Davis.  Tlioiiiili 
ull  previous  iittciii[)ts  Id  discover  the  loii^-soujilil-lor 
n(»rtli-\ve>t  j»assiii»e>  to  IikUji  had  proved  ahoitivc,  ytt 
the  /lal  of  the  l.ii^ihsh  for  adventures  in  that  (Urec- 
tioii  was  not  entirely  destroyed.  The  suhject  was 
oj^jun  a<iitated,  tnid  new  expeditions  were  planne<l. 
A  ninnher  «tt"  enter[>risinn"  ujereliiuits,  opident  land 
proprietors,  anti  n<thleinen  of  tiit!  eotnt  lormed  an 
08!r'O('iati(Mi    lor    this    [mr[>ose,    tmtl    eonnnitted    the 


A    PIIENOMKNON    SOLVED. 


175 


mi 'ill 


lircc- 


was 


inu'< 


laud 

(I   an 

ll    ll>« 


execution  of  it  to  Captain  Joliti  Davi.«.  lie  was 
furnished  with  two  small  vxv^isels,  one  of  fifty,  the 
otiier  of  thirty-five  tons,  christened  with  the  siij^nifi- 
cant  names,  the  Sunshine  and  the  Moonshine,  as  if 
expressive  of  the  desire  that  lie  nii<rht  he  furnished 
with  li«;fht,  hy  day  and  hy  night,  to  aid  him  in  maUiiijj 
the  important  discovery. 

He  left  Falmouth,  in  Fiiigiand,  on  the  HJth  tf 
June,  li'iHo.  His  course  was  first  to  the  nortiiward, 
and  then  to  tlic  westward.  On  the  llMh  of  .Inly, 
when  surroiindi'd  with  a  dense  fo;;,  and  when  the 
sea  was  unusually  calm,  they  were  somewhat  sur- 
])rised  ^'>  hear  a  <^reat  roarin<L!;,  as  if  the  ocean  in  a 
Htorm  \':a>  sending  its  hui>e  w:ives  ajrainst  a  rocU- 
hound  coast.  The  lead  was  immediately  thrown 
over,  which  indicated  that  th<;  water  was  three  hun- 
dred fathoms  deep.  The  ca()tain  j)ut  oft'  in  a  small 
hoat  to  discover  the  cause  of  the  phenomenon,  and 
soon  ascertained  that  it  was  owinjjfto  larj^e  numhers  of 
iceherg^s,  which  w(!re  corstautly  dashiiij^  ajiainst  each 
other.  He  landed  on  some  of  the  larjicr  one<,  and 
was  gratified  to  lind  that  they  tasted  fresh.  He  hruke 
off  a  quantity  and  carried  it  to  the  vessel,  v  hicJi, 
when  melted,  furnished  ihem  with  cool  fresh  water. 
The  next  day,  the  scaith-western  coast  of  (Jreenland 
was  in  sigiit,  which  is  descrihed  as  ♦'  deformed, 
rocky,  and  mountainous,  like  a  sugar  loaf,  standing 
to  our  sight  ahove   the   clouds.     It   towered  ahovu 


176 


EFFECT    OF    MUSIC. 


1 

e 


to 
is 


the  fog  like  a  wliitc  list  in  the  sky,  the  tops  alto- 
f^etlier  covered  witli  snow,  tlie  shore  Ueset  with  ice, 
inuking  such  irksome  noise  that  it  was  called  the 
land  of  desolation."  It  was  also  ohserved  that  the 
water  of  the  ocean  here  was  dark  and  thick,  like  a 
t'(a*j;nant  pool.  Numerous  seals  and  hirds  were 
seen,  hut  all  attempts  to  take  them  were  vain.  The 
coast  was  inaccessihle,  on  account  of  the  fields  and 
mountains  of  ice.  Davis  now  sailed  to  the  nt)rth- 
west  for  several  days.  On  one  occasion,  when  the 
weather  and  the  ice  permitted,  he  went  on  shore 
with  two  conjpanions.  When  the  shii;i<i.y,  skin- 
clothed  natives  discovered  them,  they  set  up  a  loud 
and  dismal  howlinj::,  similar  to  that  of  wolves.  As 
Davis  knew  not  their  character,  nor  the  ohject  of 
their  lamentahle  noise,  he  gave  a  signal  note  to  his 
crew  on  hoard  the  vessel,  a  portion  of  whom  imme- 
diately put  oft*  for  the  shore,  accompanied  with  a 
band  of  music.  They  were  all  armed.  When  they 
landed,  they  advanced  towards  the  natives  with 
(huK^ing  and  music,  and  extended  to  them  every 
manifestation  of  friendshi)).  The  unusual  notes  of 
a  hand  of  Euroj)ean  nmsic,  amid  the  ice  and  snows 
of  their  desolate  country,  awakened  the  ciuiosity 
of  the  half-fr<»/en  natives.  Ten  canoes  from  the 
neighhoring  islands  made  their  appearance,  but  kept 
at  a  respectful  distance.  The  Knglish  continucsd 
their   prollers   of    friendship,    hut    without    success 


TIIAFIMC    WlTir    THK    NVTIVKS. 


rn 


i»t 


One  of  the  native.s  poiiilfd  towards  tlie  sun,  and 
comineiiccd  heatinji^  liis  breast.  John  lilHs,  master 
of  the  Mootishine,  iinifated  these  j»<.'stnr('s.  This 
liad  the  desired  elVect.  The  native  <  now  aj)])roa(hed 
und  received  from  tlieir  stran<;e  visitcns  presents  oj' 
gloves,  caps,  stcx'kinjrs,  and  toys.  The  hand  r(!- 
jifaled  them  with  tlieir  sweetest  notes,  and  a  h'a.'iiie 
of  friendshii)  was  formed.  The  next  dav  thirtv- 
seven  canoes  came  out  to  the  vessels,  and  earnestly 
invited  the  ifien  on  shore  a<rain.  Davis  accepted 
their  invitation.  ll<"  mainu'd  his  hoats  and  went  on 
land.  One  of  the  Indians,  not  satislied  with  simply 
Hhakinu:  his  hand,  also  kissed  it.  Coniidenci;  heinji; 
established  bet\\(en  the  two  parties,  tradinj^  (rom- 
menced.  The  nati\es  parted  \\\\\\  the  cIoIIhjs  they 
wore,  which  were  made  of  seals'  skins,  birds'  skms 
dressed  with  the  leathers  on,  bnskins  of  leather,  and 
also  with  their  darts,  paddles,  and  canoes,  tor  what- 
ever thes(!  iViendly  straiiirers  \\('r<;  disposed  to  <>ive 
in  exchange.  They  promised  to  retnrn  the  next 
day,  but  failing  to  do  so,  Davis  sailed  across  the 
straits  which  now  bear  his  name,  and  discovered  a 
hifjfh  mountain  which  trlistened  like  uold.  This  was 
Mount  Raleiirh.  The  northern  |)romontory  of  it 
uas  Dyer's  Cape,  and  the  southern  was  called  Cape 
Walsinjrluun,  after  Sir  Francis  Walsinjiham,  who 
was  then  secretary  of  stite.  Tin  men  here  saw 
three  animals  ut  a  tli.-tance,  which   they  believed   to 


V 


178 


BEARS    AND    00(59. 


1 

Ik 

s 

« 

I 

» 

i 

n 
'    II 

Hi 


« 
It 
■I 

1 


be  white  «roijt.s.  Being  in  want  both  of  sport  i.nd 
of  fresh  meat,  they  set  ont  in  pursuit  of  these  harm- 
less animals.  To  their  anta/ement,  they  found  that, 
instead  of  j^oats,  they  were  hir<;e  white  hears  !  The 
animals  rushed  towards  them,  fearless  and  furi- 
ous. When  they  arrived  sullicuMitly  near,  the  men 
levelled  their  guns  and  greeted  their  approach  with 
several  halls.  Not  anticipating  such  a  warm  recej>- 
tion,  the  hears  were  glad  to  retreat  ;  they  were  pur- 
sued by  the  men  and  killed.  They  ap|)eared  to 
have  fed  only  on  grass,  yet  so  corj)ulent  were  they 
that  large  quantities  of  fat  had  to  be  cut  away  be- 
fore their  flesh  Wiis  fit  to  be  eaten.  The  next  day 
another  enorm(»usly  large  one  was  killed,  whose 
paws  were  fourteen  inches  in  breadth. 

After  coasting  about  for  some  days  without  any 
important  results,  Davis  found  himself  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  ca])e  which  he  first  saw  when  he 
crossed  from  Greenland,  and  which  he  named  God's 
Mercy.  lie  doubled  this  and  entered  a  sound, 
which,  after  ascending  sixty  leagues,  brought  him  to 
a  nund)er  of  islands.  As  he  could  pass  between 
them,  his  expectation  was  daily  strengthened  of 
fmding  the  great  object  of  his  search — the  north- 
west passage  to  China. 

On  one  of  these  islands  he  saw  some  dogs.  As 
he  supposed  they  coidd  not  be  otherwise  than  wild, 
he  fired  at   them,  killing  two.      To   his  surprise,   he 


nist'oVRun:s  of   n.wis. 


ni> 


f(MiiHl  Oil  tlie  lunk  of  oik*  ol"  tliriii  ;i  collar,  wliicli 
was  a  part  of  his  liariH'ss.  Prosrntly  lu'  discovert'd 
tlio  slod  to  uliicli  it  liad  I)<m'|i  aftarlicd.  This 
proved  lliat  the  island  was  iidiahitcd.  .loliii  Hein- 
bold  I'ostcr,  in  his  History  of  IVorthcrn  Voy:»j^(?s, 
Bays,  "  Thus  it  appears  that  Davis  was  tho  first  who 
.11  later  tiiiK.s  saw  the  western  coast  ol'  (jireeidaiid, 
on  which  Cape  Desolation  lies.  lie  allerwards  dis- 
covered land  lurtlirr  to  the  westward,  on  the  ishnid 
whicdi  he  afterwards  himself  called  Cniidierland's 
Island.  On  this  island,  als(),  is  Mount  Haleiiih,  Tot- 
iM'ss  Uojul,  Ivxeler  Sound,  Dyer's  Cape,  and  ('ape 
A\  al.-iM<:liani.  'J'he  s«'a  between  Cuinherland's  Island 
and  the  western  cuasi  of  (ireenland  was  afterwards 
named  Davis's  Straits;  and  as  in  the  setjuel  all 
the  land  fjuile  to  IJutton's  l^iands,  on  the  coast  of 
LahradoJ-,  was  discoNcred  hy  l)a\is,  Davis's  Straits 
uere  also  extended  as  far  as  this  spot.  He  likew  ise 
.saw  the  Ca|)e  of  (lod's  Mercy,  and  the  straits  which 
lie  also  called  Cunil)erland  Straits.  These,  then, 
are  Davis's   discoveries  on   his  first   voyage. 

Durin<^'  this  voyaj^e,  he  also  saw  larp;e  quantities 
of  the  black  stone  and  other  rficks  which  jilistened 
like  jjold,  and  which  Sir  INIartin  Frohisher  had  taken 
home  for  j»'old  ore.  It  attracted  no  attention  now  ; 
its  wortlilessness  was  known.  He  returned  to  ling- 
land  on  the  IJOth  of  September. 

On  the  7tb  of  3Iav,  I5S0,  Davis  left  DartnioulU 


'1? 


180 


FIUKNDS    Tl'RN    THIKVES. 


I 

ft      val 


! 

H 

to 
to 


i 

to 


« 


|r 

iliiiHt' 

*c 

l^ 

Eii^rlaiid,  on  Ills  sfccuicl  voyajrc.  Ilis  fleot,  tliis  time, 
coiisistrd  of  the  Smisliiiic,  the  ^looiishiiie,  tlie  M<'r- 
rnuiil,  and  one  otiier  small  vessel.  They  had  a  stonny 
passage  to  (ireeidand.  They  entereil  a  harbor  on  the 
western  side  ealN'd  then  dilbert's  Sound,  but  now 
known  as  God  Jlaah,  or  Good  JIoj»e.  Their  inter- 
views with  the  natives  were  at  first  of  the  most  friendly 
character.  The  two  pmties  entr-red  into  the  amnse- 
nuMits  of  kapiii^j  and  wrestliuLT  with  ijreat  •>foo<l 
humor.  At  leapin^^  the  Kniiiish  beat,  but  in  wres- 
tlinjjj  the  natives  were  the  victors.  It  was  not 
lonj^,  however,  before  they  exhibited  other  qualities. 
They  practised  what  Davis  regarded  as  solemn  in- 
cantations. At  one  time  they  kindled  a  lire  by  the 
friction  occasioned  by  the  rnbbinj^  of  two  sticks 
to<rether,  and  then  re<|uested  him  to  pass  tbroujih  it. 
Instead  of  complyin;^,  he  ji'iive  the  strongest  expres- 
sion of  contempt  of  their  ceremony  in  bis  power. 
He  caused  the  liie  to  be  trodden  out,  and  the  black- 
ened brands  to  be  cast  into  the  sea. 

The  natives  now  develop(;d  a  strong  thievish  pro- 
jjensity.  They  stole  every  thing  they  could  witluuit 
Ueti!ction.  Not  satislietl  with  this,  they  destroyed 
what  they  could   not  carry  away.     Davis  fired  two 

\» 

Th 


eccs    at    them,    which    *'  did    sore    amaze    thei 


n 


»> 


ley  were  not  cured,  however,  ol  their  uisulting 
disposition.  Some  days  afterwards,  five  came  with 
proposals    ol'    friendship.     One    of    them    was    the 


i 
ill 


GAME    AND    FISFI. 


181 


ringleader  in  all  the  mischief.  Davis  made  him  a 
captive,  and  earried  him  away. 

On  c»ne  oeeasion,  when  tlie  men  were  <jatherinjjf 
muscles  for  snpper,  Davis  was  furnished  with  a  view 
of  a  njajj^iiificent  wat('rs)M)Ut.  Two  currents  of  air 
meetiiijL!;  created  a  whirlwind,  which,  operating  upon 
the  waves  as  a  whirlwind  does  Uf)on  the  dust,  created 
a  waterspout,  and  ke|»t  it  whirling  ahout  for  three 
hours  in  succession.  It  was  an  ohject  of  great  in- 
terest. Had  it  reached  the  vessel,  it  would  prohahly 
hnve  torn  it  to  pieces. 

The  cold  heing  intense,  the  rijiuintf  coated  so 
thickly  with  ice,  and  the  men  being  determined  to 
proceed  no  farther  north,  Davis  directed  Ijis  course 
south.  lie  found  ;i  mnnher  of  islands,  wiiich  wero 
crowded  with  immense  flocks  of  gulls  and  seamews. 
The  water  seemed  to  he  e(|ually  ahundant  with  fisli. 
In  the  course  of  an  hour,  which  was  measured  by  a 
glass,  they  caught  a  hundred  large  cod. 

The  coast  of  Labrador  was  found  to  be  covered 
with  forests  of  lir,  pine,  yew,  and  bircii.  They  also 
saw  a  black  bear,  pheasants,  barbary  hens,  pjir- 
tridges,  wild  geese,  ducks,  blackbirds,  jays,  thrushes, 
and  various  other  small  birds.  Some  of  these  they 
kille(K 

Some  fish  having  been  left  by  them  in  a  certain 
place,  ir'n  of  the  men  were  sent  ashore  to  get 
them.  They  were  lired  upon  by  some  Indians  who 
10 


■p 


1^2 


DAVIS  S    THIKI)    VOYAfiK. 


were  liirkriii;  in  tlin  woods,  mikI  four  of  the  men 
\voiiii(I<.'(I,  two  of  whom  (lied.  Tlio  vessels  np- 
proached  tlie  shore,  fired  iij)on  the  savnj^es,  and  8<  ut- 
tered them.  Sid)se<pient  to  this  Davis  experienced 
two  violent  st«>rms.  •  lie  then  returned.  He  nnuh'  no 
advance  towards  the  i^reat  ohjc<t  of  his  voyayc, 
namely,  the  discovery  of  the  north-west  passaue, 
thon<;h  his  expedition  was  important  in  oth(>r  re- 
spects. It  is  dillicnlt  to  tell  with  inccision  what 
])laces  he  visited,  hecanse  his  own  <li'sciiptions  are 
no  indefmitcN 

So  unsnccessfnl  were  his  {wo  voyages  that  he  ex- 
jjerienced  «»rcat  dillicnlty  in  ol»tainin;L''  the  means  for 
another.  Merchants  were;  nnwillinji'  to  risk  their 
property  in  an  enterprise  which,  to  all  appearance, 
would  prove  a  tot;d  loss.  Davis,  however,  snt'ceeded 
in  convincin<;°  certain  indi\idnals  that  the  expenses 
of  another  expedition  mi^lit  he  cNiVavi'd  hv  fisheries 
on  the  northern  coast  of  Anieiica.  Accortliii<ily,  he 
once  m(»re  had  connnittetl  to  him  thr<'e  ships.  II(^ 
reached  the  coast  of  ^^  est  (iieeidand  on  the  Kith 
of  .lune,  15^7.  Davis  here  ordered  two  of  his 
vessels  to  en^anc'  in  4lsliiii<i-  whilst  he  j)ursue(l  his 
discoveries.  W  hen  he  arrived  opposite  Disko  Road, 
he  saw  lar|:;e  nnnd)i'rs  of  whales.  The  iidiahitants 
came  oiV,  in  their  small  hoats,  for  purposes  of  trade. 
On  the  JJOth  of  .June,  in  latitude  seventy-two  decrees, 
twelve  minutes,  the  sun  was  Nisihie  ahove  the  hori/.of 


A    LON<;    DAY. 


Iffy 


llie  whole  twenty-four  lumrs.  Davis  called  the 
place  Hope  Saiulcrsoii,  alter  Mi  Williinii  Sander- 
son, who  had  Cinitrihiited  larjrr'ly  towards  tla;  «\p(!« 
dition.  From  there  he  erosseil  the  straits  to  Mount 
llalei|rh,  or  CundxM'land  Island.  He  entered  (  inn- 
herland  Straits,  and  sailed  up  one  hnndr<-d  and 
eii^hty  miles  to  a  cluster  of  islands.  A  whale  pa>sed 
them,  j?oin<»'  to  the  west.  The  ne<'dle  \uvi^  varied 
thirty  de;jfrees  west.  As  they  retraced  their  course 
they  were  hecahned,  and  the  weather  hecame  ex- 
cessively hot.  'I'lu'  men  who  went  on  shoi-e  saw 
fj^raves,  and  t'oinid  a  phiee  w!nre  train  oil  had  het'ii 
spilt.  Doi^s  were  si't'W  so  fat  as  to  he  scarcely 
ahle  to  run.  Ilavinir  reaihed  the  open  sea,  he  dis- 
covered mi  iidet,  which  he  named,  alter  my  Lord 
Lundey,  Lundey's  Inlet.  On  the  IJIst  of  .Iidy  he 
saw  a  prom(mtory,  whicdi  he  called  Warwick's 
Foreland.  lie  also  discovered  an  island,  which, 
alter  liord  l)an-y,  he  called  Darcy's  Islan<I.  On  the 
top  of  it  they  lonnd  some  sta<rs.  The  men  went  in 
pursuit  of  them,  and  after  chasin*::  them  three  times 
round  the  island,  they  leaped  into  the  water  and 
Bwam  to  another  island  eij^ht  or  nine  miles  distant. 
One  of  them  was  as  larjje  as  a  cow,  with  lar"e  feet, 


and 


ve 


ry 


fat. 


Davis  now  retm'ned  to  i\ut  place  wher<;  he  had 
ordered  the  other  slii|)s  to  meet  him.  IJnt  not  tind- 
inj;   them   there,  he  was   disappoinied   and   oll'ended. 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  1  ^5bO 

(716)  872-4^)03 


.^'     Wj. 


Us 


i 


rv 


^m 


184 


MARQUIS   DE    LA    ROCHE. 


It';1 


I 


4'"*^ 


I 


I  (ill  [■'>*'■ 


IN 


il ) 


and   returned   immediately   home,   where   he  found 
the  missing  vessels. 

In  the  year  1598,  tiie  Marquis  de  la  Roche,  a 
Breton  gentleman,  obtained  a  patent  from  the  Kiu<( 
conferring  upon  him  the  same  powers  which  had 
been  granted  to  Roberval.  He  sailed  in  an  armed 
vessel  for  Nova  Scotia  the  same  year.  He  took  oiit 
with  him  a  company  of  miserable  convicts,  drawn 
from  the  prisons  of  France,  with  wliich  to  plant  a 
colony.  He  landed  forty  of  these  on  the  Isle  of 
Sable,  situated  nearly  a  hundred  miles  from  Nova 
Scotia.  Whether  he  ever  reached  the  continent  is 
unknown,  but  he  returned  to  France,  leaving  these 
unfortunate  criminals  upon  this  island  to  drag  out  a 
lingering,  wretched  existence.  It  was  a  fate  more 
dreadful  to  many  of  them  than  the  original  penalty 
of  their  crimes.  After  enduring  seven  years  of  ex- 
treme suffering,  during  which  twenty-eight  of  their 
number  died,  an  expedition  was  sent  to  their  relief, 
who  brought  away  the  remaining  twelve.  They 
were  reduced  to  abject  wretchedness.  In  appear- 
ance, they  were  the  most  miserable  specimens  of 
humanity  ever  seen.  So  great  had  become  the 
public  interest  in  them  that  the  King  ordered  them 
to  be  brought  into  his  presence  in  the  same  condi- 
tion in  which  they  were  fotmd.  They  presented 
a  truly  affecting  siglit.  So  great  had  been  their 
dulferings   upon  that  island,  whilst   exposed  to   ihe 


CAPTAIN    WEYMOUTH  S    EXPEDITION. 


185 


inclfcmencit's  of  a  severe  climate,  that  they  were 
regarded  as  more  than  an  equivalent  to  the  penalties 
which  their  oftences  had  incurred.  They  wee, 
therefore,  pardoned  of  their  crimes.  Money  was 
given  to  them,  and  tlie  furs  which  they  had  collected 
during  their  residence  there,  but  which  had  been 
unlawfully  taken  from  them  by  the  captain  who  had 
brought  them  home,  were  restored  to  them. 

The  Marquis  de  la  Roche,  who  had  been  guilty 
of  this  inhumanity,  being  harassed  by  persecutions, 
perplexed  with  vexations,  and  ruined  by  the  failure 
of  the  enterprise,  died  wretchedly  of  a  broken 
heart. 

After  the  third  failure  of  Davis  to  discover  the 
north-west  ])assage,  two  events  occurred  which  prf)- 
duced  a  disheartening  effect  upon  the  spirit  of 
marine  discovery :  the  first  was  the  death  of  Secre- 
tary Walsingham,  and  the  other  was  the  invasion  of 
England  by  the  Spanish  self-styled  and  misnamed 
Invincible  Armada,  preparation  for  the  reception  (»f 
which  engrossed  the  whole  attention  and  energicsj 
of  the  English  nation. 

In  1602,  efforts  were  resumed,  under  the  combined 
auspices  of  the  Muscovy  Company  and  the  Levant 
Company.  They  deputed  Captain  George  Wey- 
mouth, with  two  fly-boats,  one  of  sixty  and  the 
other  of  seventy  tons,  called  the  Discovery  and  the 
Godspeed,  to  make  one  more  attempt.  He  departed 
16* 


■"!ir 


I 


i::;::!" 

,..;||.. 


'ili'' 


.^* 


It) 


186 


ICED    VESSELS. 


from  London  on  the  2(1  day  of  May,  and  on  tin;  I8ti 
of  June  he  arrived  oft'  the  coast  of  Greenhuid 
Here  he  ohserved  the  same  peculiarity  in  the  water 
which  Captain  John  Davis  had  described.  It  was 
"  thick  as  puddle,"  occasioned  perhaps  by  number- 
less animalcuIoB.  On  the  28th,  he  came  in  sight  of 
America.  The  bald  head  of  a  conspicuous  promon- 
tt»ry  presented  itself  to  view,  covered  with  snow, 
which  he  concluded  was  Warwick's  Foreland.  He 
here  had  a  narrow  escape  from  being  wrecked.  So 
strong  were  the  currents,  so  violent  the  sea,  and  so 
dense  the  fog,  that  he  had  almost  rim  upon  an  ice- 
berg before  it  was  discovered.  As  their  water  was 
brackish  and  nearly  exhausted,  the  crew  landed  upon 
it  and  loaded  their  boat  with  cakes  of  ice,  which 
furnished  them  with  a  very  agreeable  drink. 

As  a  loud  and  continuous  roaring,  like  the  break- 
ing of  the  surf  upon  the  shore,  was  heard,  the  men 
made  towards  it,  and  found  it  was  produced  by  the 
rolling  in  and  dashing  of  the  waves  upon  the  icy 
barrier  of  the  coast.  So  dense  was  the  mist  that  it 
was  impossible  to  see  but  a  very  short  distance  in 
any  direction.  Prudence  dictated  the  order  of  the 
captain  to  take  in  the  sails ;  but  when  the  men  made 
the  attempt,  they  were  horror-struck  to  find  them  so 
frozen  as  to  be  unmanageable.  The  next  day  they 
renewed  the  attempt ;  but  so  large  had  the  ropes 
become  by  the  accumulation  of  ice  upon  them,  that 


A    MUTINY. 


18? 


Dreak- 
mcn 
)y  the 

icy 
lat  it 
ce  in 
)f  the 
made 
m  so 

they 
ropes 
,  tliat 


they  could  not  he  worked  until  large  quantities  of 
the  ice  were  cut  away.  The  day  following,  matters? 
were  still  worse.  Though  it  was  midsummer,  ropes, 
sails,  rigging,  every  thing  on  which  tiie  mist  and 
the  spray  settled,  was  thickly  incrusted  with  ice  and 
rendered  immovalde.  The  Godspeed  and  the  Dis- 
covery were  tossed  about  by  the  billows  as  if  they 
were  vessels  of  glass.  The  sailors  were  appalled. 
If  this  is  the  climate  of  summer,  who  can  conceive 
the  severities  of  winter  ?  If  the  suns  of  .July  can- 
not prevent  the  formation  of  vast  masses  of  ice, 
what  may  be  expected  in  December  ?  A  conspiracy 
was  formed  among  the  men,  and  they  resolved  to 
leave  this  climate,  where  the  atmosphere  was  filled 
with  snow,  and  the  water  with  mountains  of  ice, 
and  bear  away  to  England.  Their  plan  was,  to 
seize  the  captain  and  confine  iiim  until  they  obtained 
his  consent.  Before  they  commenced  the  execution 
of  their  iniquitous  scheme,  Weymouth  obtained  in- 
formation of  what  was  in  progress,  and  immediately 
called  the  men  to  an  account.  Without  the  least 
exhibition  of  timidity,  they  manfully  justified  their 
conduct  Dy  what  appeared  to  them  sufficiently  co- 
gent reasons.  Their  defence  was,  that,  if  they  be- 
came frozen  up  in  that  unknown  and  dangerous  sea, 
their  destruction  was  highly  probable,  or,  if  they 
survived  the  sufferings  and  horrors  of  an  arctic 
winter,  they  could  not  recommence  their  explorationi 


1  .^'''H 


I    .Mi''"' 


mi 

■I  • 


188 


STRAIT    DISCOVERED. 


s 

I 

M 


h 


I 


next  year  (3ar1icr  than  May  ;  wliereas,  iftliey  set  out 
at  once  for  lin^laiul,  they  wouhl  he  ahhj  to  retnrn 
here  hy  that  time,  he.sitlcs  escapin;ir  the  severities  of 
the  ehniate  and  enjoying  a  visit  to  their  friends. 
The  captain  went  helow  to  consider  the  snhject. 
The  men  remained  firm  in  their  determination,  and 
as  soon  as  the  captain  was  out  of  sight  they  directed 
tlie  course  of  the  vessel  towards  England.  Wey- 
month  was  soon  informed  of  what  had  occurred, 
and  hastening  on  deck,  and  finding  tiie  vessel  sailing 
in  a  direction  different  from  his  orders,  he  inquired 
by  whose  authority  it  was  done ;  the  answer  was, 
by  "  one  and  all."  Finding  the  conspiracy  general 
among  the  men,  the  captain  deemed  it  the  part  of 
prudence  to  yield,  at  least  for  the  present,  though  at 
a  subsequent  period  he  brought  the  ringleaders  to 
punishment. 

As  the  men  expressed  a  willingness  to  prosecute 
discoveries  any  where  to  the  south,  even  at  the  risk 
of  their  lives,  Weymouth,  rather  than  return  prema- 
turely to  England,  directed  his  course  to  the  south- 
ward. Finding  an  inlet,  he  entered  it,  and  pene- 
trated to  the  south-west  a  hundred  leagues ;  but  the 
fog  being  thick,  gales  severe,  and  the  winter  ap- 
proacliing,  he  was  compelled  to  return  to  the  open 
sea.  The  discovery  of  this  inlet  awakened  hopes 
of  the  ultimate  success  of  his  enterprise.  It  seemed 
to   present   the    most   feasible  course  to  the  long- 


A    HURRICANE. 


189 


(ooked-for  nortli-nest  passajro.  This  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  priiicij);!!  entrance  to  Hudson's  15ay. 
In  latitude  fifty-five  lie  fi)mid  hind,  with  ishmds  and 
harbors  fiivora!)le  fi)r  a  settlement,  |)robably  tlie  ph»cc 
where  tlie  indefiiti;ir;ible  and  fearless  Moravians  af- 
ter'.vards  established  a  missionary  station  atid  called 
it  Nain. 

Though  Weymouth  had  now  regained  the  open 
sea,  he  had  not  escaped  from  danger.  A  violent 
hurricane  came  down  upon  him  from  the  west, 
which  threatened  to  tear  the  vessels  in  pieces  and 
strew  the  ocean  with  their  wrecks.  The  water  was 
agitated  in  the  most  violent  maimer.  The  ships 
were  driven  on  with  the  speed  of  the  wind,  but  for- 
tunately it  blew  off  the  shore,  otherwise  nothing 
could  have  saved  them.  They  soon  afterwards  re- 
turned home. 

The  same  year  that  Captain  Weymouth  was 
endeavoring  to  find  a  passage  to  the  sultry  clime  of 
India,  by  ploughing  through  the  ice  and  snows  of  the 
arctic  regions,  another  bold  adventurer  was  creeping 
along  the  less  bleak,  but  perhaps  not  less  rock- 
bonnd,  coast  of  New  England,  to  find  a  desirable 
location  for  a  colony.  This  was  Bartholomew  Gos- 
nold.  The  route  pursued  by  this  navigator  was  dif- 
ferent from  that  which  was  usually  taken  by  visitors 
to  the  new  world.  Instead  of  sailing  to  the  Cana- 
ries, or  touching  at  the  Bermudas  or  the  West  Indies, 


1     •:)!•<" 


•! 

M««^ 

,^i;i(« 

II 

.<<« 

0 

190 


DISCOVERY   OF    CAPE    COD. 


wtt 


^  I 


he  steered,  as  neavly  as  the  winds  would  urllow, 
due  west.  He  is  distinguitilied  as  heiiig  the  first 
Eiijiflishinaii  who  came  to  tliis  part  of  the  country 
hy  a  direct  course  across  the  Atlantic,  by  which  the 
<iistance  was  shortened  some  five  hundred  leagues. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  he  discovered  land  in  the 
forty-third  degree  of  latitude,  somewhere  near  where 
Portsmouth  now  stands.  Presently  a  shallop  was 
seen  making  towards  them,  with  sails.  As  it  was 
not  "surl  for  the  Indians  to  use  sail  lx)ats,  Gosn>>ld 
was  at  first  at  a  loss  to  know  whether  the  boat  was 
manned  with  natives  or  with  Europeans.  His  sus- 
pense was  not  of  long  duration.  As  the  craft  ap- 
proached, lie  perceived  that  it  contained  Indians. 
After  exchanging  professions  of  peace  and  friend- 
ship, the  savages  caine  on  board  and  engaged  in 
traffic.  The  shallop,  so  different  from  the  canoes 
which  were  in  common  nse  among  them,  was  prob- 
alily  some  fishing  vessel  which  had  been  driven 
ashore  juid  abandoned.  In  managing  it,  the  Indians 
used  both  sails  and  oars.  Directing  his  course 
south,  Gosnold  discovered  an  arm  of  the  main  land 
projecting  far  into  tlie  ocean,  with  a  singular,  con- 
tinuous, scroll-like  bend.  He  found  at  its  termina- 
tion a  0(mvenient  and  safe  harbor,  but  so  circui- 
tous was  the  course  to  reach  it,  in  consequence  of 
the  bending  of  the  cape,  that  in  entering  it  he  sailed 
to  nearly  all  points  of  the  compass.     Near  this  pldce 


A  NAME  UNCHANGED. 


19i 


Gosnold's  crew  cauffht  larjje  miinbers  of  cod.  One 
of  the  company,  in  a  journal  wliirli  lie  kcjit,  says, 
"In  five  or  six  hours  we  pestered  our  ships  so  with 
codfish  that  we  threw  numbers  of  them  overboard 
again."  From  this  circumstance  he  named  it  Cape 
Cod.  Since  then  it  has  received  various  other  a|)- 
pellations.  By  the  Dutch,  in  1659,  it  was  called 
Staatcn  Hoeck,  or  State  Point,  and  IVitfe  Ilorck,  or 
White  Point,  perhaps  from  the  white  sand  liiHs  with 
which  it  was  covered.  For  the  same  reason  the 
French  named  it  Cap  Blanc,  or  White  Cape. 
Charles,  Prince  of  Wales,  ordered  it  to  be  called, 
in  honor  of  his  father,  Cape  .lames.  It  retained, 
however,  none  of  these  ai)pellations.  The  old, 
original,  significant  name  of  Cape  Cod,  given  to  it 
by  Gosnold,  it  bears  still,  "  a  name,"  says  Cotton 
Mather,  "  I  suppose  it  will  never  lose,  till  shoals  of 
codfish  be  seen  swimming  on  its  highest  hills." 

Gosnold  coasted  southerly,  and  on  the  next  day 
after  leaving  the  cape  he  attempted  to  double  another 
point  of  land,  when  he  suddenly  found  himself  in 
shoal  water,  where  he  was  in  danger  of  getting 
aground.  No  little  care  was  required  to  extricate 
himself  from  his  unexpected  peril,  from  which  cir- 
cumstance he  named  the  place  Point  Care.  This  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  southern  point  of  the 
cape,  which  forms  the  elbow,  and  is  now  called 
Cape  Malabar.     Whilst  here  he  was  visited  by  the 


'I  111 


<»'■■ 


.V 


If' 


192 


gosnold's  discoveries. 


natives.  Passing  on  farther,  they  came  to  an  islandr 
whicli  they  named  Martha's  Vineyard.  Dr.  Holmes, 
in  I»is  Ameriran  Annuls,  says,  "  Tliis  was  not  tiie 
island  that  now  bears  that  name,  but  a  small  island 
now  called  Noman's  Land."  But  as  this  is  situated 
a  short  distance  to  the  south-west  of  the  island  now 
known  as  Martha's  Vineyard,  it  is  probable  that  he 
also  saw  this  latter,  as  he  must  have  passed  it  in  his 
course.  He  also  discovered  Gay  Head,  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  Dover  ClitF.  The  next  day  he 
entered  a  large  bay,  which  received  the  name  of 
Gosnold's  Hope,  but  is  now  known  as  Buzzard's 
Bay.  About  twelve  miles  to  the  south  was  an  island 
called,  by  the  Indians,  Cuttyhunk ;  it  was  one  of  a 
cluster  which  Gosnold  christened  Elizabeth  Island, 
in  honor  of  his  Queen.  This  name,  hke  Cape  Cod, 
has  proved  to  be  permanent.  A  little  to  the  north 
were  two  small  elevations,  which  they  called  Hill's 
Hap,  and  Hap's  Hill. 

As  Gosnold  had  visited  the  country  for  the  pur- 
pose of  founding  a  colony,  he  was  constantly  on  the 
lookout  for  a  suitable  location.  After  an  examina- 
tion of  the  place,  it  was  agreed,  upon  mutual  con- 
sultation, to  make  the  attempt  upon  the  western  part 
of  Elizabeth  Island.  This  island  was  found  to  con- 
tain a  large  pond  of  fresh  water,  having  in  its  cen- 
tre a  small  rocky  islet.  They  here  commenced 
the  erection  of  a  fort   and  storehouse,  which  they 


COSNOLI)  S    COLONY. 


193 


finislicd  in  nineteen  (lnv>.  Wliilst  the  nien  were  en- 
gu<:;e(l  in  l>nil(lin«j:,  (iosnold  crossed  the  hay  to  the 
main  land,  and  opened  a  trallic  with  the  natives  ; 
he  also  discovered  the  months  (»f  two  rivers — one 
in  the  vicinity  of  Ilap's  Hill,  and  another  on  which 
JNew  Bedford  now  stands,  called,  by  the  Indians, 
Acnshnet.  He  was  absent  five  days.  This  colony 
was  never  established.  Difficnltics  and  dissatisfac- 
tion arose  among  those  who  were  to  have  consti- 
tnted  it.  On  this  account  it  was  agreed,  after  con- 
sultation among  the  parties,  to  abandon  the  project 
and  return  to  England.  This  ephemeral  settlement 
of  Gosnold's  was  sometimes  called  Old  Plymouth, 
whilst  that  commenced  in  1G20,  in  Massachusetts 
Bay,  was  known  for  a  time  as  New  Plymouth,  evi- 
dently to  distinguish  it  from  the  first. 

In  1797,  several  gentlemen,  one  of  whom  was  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Belknap,  visited  EUzabeth  Island,  for  the 
purpose  of  examining  the  ruins,  if  there  were  any, 
of  Gosnold's  buildings.  They  had  the  satisfaction 
of  finding  the  cellar  of  the  storehouse,  which  they 
noticed  was  built  of  stones  taken  from  the  beach,  as 
the  rocks  of  the  island  were  less  available,  being  in 
solid  ledges.  The  ruins  had  then  lasted  a  hundred 
and  ninety-five  years. 
17 


-»■•:'", 

m 


■;;3iii 


.„«<# 


104 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


'■tfa 


no 


i.; 


m 


mi' 


Dutch  Enterprise.  —  Ilonry  Hudson.  —  Arrives  at  Siindy  Hook.— 
Horseshoe  Harbor.  —  Somuliiifrs.  —  Coney  Island.  —  Produc- 
tions.—  Visitors. —  Indian  Alliance. —  Mr.  Herkcwoldcr.  —  In- 
tcre«!ting  Tradition.  —  The  long  House.  —  How  it  was  short- 
ened.—  The  Con(hiPt  of  the  Natives.  —  The  Crew  land.  —  What 
they  saw.  —  Hudson  suspicious.  —  Unfortunate  Adventure.  — 
A  gloomy  Night.  —  A  sad  Spectacle.  —  The  Burial. —  Cole- 
man's Point.  —  Precautionary  Measures.  —  More  Visitors.  —  In- 
dian Stratagem.  —  Indians  captured.  —  One  escapes.  —  Red 
Coats.  —  Discovers  a  great  River.  —  Its  N^-^'^'  —Show  of 
Love.  —  Want  of  Confidence. 

Not  long  after  the  abandonment  of  this  entei- 
prise  by  Gosnold,  we  find  the  Dutch  engaged  in  ex- 
plorations, and  in  attempts  to  open  trade  with  the 
aborigines  of  North  America.  In  their  employ  was 
an  Englishman,  whose  name  was  Henry  Hudson, 
one  of  "  the  few  whose  names  were  not  born  to  die." 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  intelligence,  of  great  physi- 
cal and  moral  courage,  and  p.-sessed  of  no  small 
share  of  fortitude  —  an  essential  quaUfication  for 
one  who  aspires  to  the  honors  of  geographical  dis- 
covery. 

On  the  3d  of  Se|)tember,  1009  Hudson,  in  a  ves- 
sel called  the  Half  Moon,  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook, 
and  came  to  anchor.     .Asa  precautionary  measure, 


^.'^ 


HUDSON  S    FIRST    LANDING. 


m 


O 


he  sent  liis  small  lunit  alicud,  to  souiul  and  ascertain 
the  de[»th  of  tlu;  water.  Ijoiiiii;'  .salisl'h'il  tliat  the 
rnovcinent  would  he  safe,  lie  advanced  the  next 
mornni<>;  farther  in  the  hay,  and  anehoreil  in  Ilorse- 
fihoe  llarhor.  In  a  journal  which  was  ke[)t  on 
board  his  vessel  is  the  followin<^  entry  at  that  date: 
"At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  came  to  three 
^reat  rivers.  So  we  stood  alon<T  to  the  northern- 
most, thinkin<^  to  liave  gcuie  into  it  ;  hut  we  found 
it  to  have  a  very  shoal  bar  before  it,  for  s\<  !iad  but 
ten  foot  water.  Then  we  cast  about  to  the  south- 
ward, and  found  two  fathoms,  three  I  thoiijs,  an  I 
three  ni'  1  a  quarter,  till  we  came  to  the  soutliern 
side  of  them:  then  we  had  live  and  eix  f.^thoms,  and 
anchored.  So  ,"«^  sent  in  our  boat  to  sound,  and 
they  found  no  less  water  than  four,  five,  six,  and 
seven  fathoms,  and  returned  in  an  hour  and  a  half. 
So  we  weighed  and  went  in,  and  rode  in  five  fatli-" 
oms,  oozy  ground,  and  sa.v  many  salmons,  and  mid- 
lets,  and  rays  very  great."  Some  of  his  men  being 
sent  on  shore  with  a  net,  caught  ten  large  mullets, 
eighteen  inches  long,  and  a  ray  so  heavy  as  retiuired 
four  men  to  get  it  on  board  the  ship. 

It  would  be  gratifying  if  we  could  designate  the 
precise  spot  where  Hudson  first  stepped  upon  the 
shore  ;  but  this  is  now  impossible.  The  nearest  ap. 
proximation  that  we  can  make  is  based  upon  a  tra- 
dition that  the  first  landing-place  was  Coney  Island, 


tHli 


:     411' 


Mm 


!■        i 


•  ■  ^! 


i    n 


196 


INDIAN    LEAGUE. 


opposite  Gravesend,  Long  Island.  Though  the  soil 
appeared  to  be  unpromising,  consisting  chiefly  of 
white  sand,  yet  they  were  dehghted  to  find  large 
numbers  of  plum-trees,  loaded  with  fruit,  and  grape 
vines  hanging  in  graceful  festoons  among  their 
branches.  Various  kinds  of  birds  darting  about  in 
different  directions,  added  another  element  of  life 
and  beauty  to  the  scene. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  curiosity  of  the  natives 
prompted  them  to  visit  these  strangers  who  had 
come  to  them  in  a  mysterious  floating-house.  At 
that  time,  among  the  various  tribes  of  Indians  who 
occupied  the  present  precincts  of  the  Empire  State 
and  its  vicinity,  were  Moliawks,  Delawares,  jMauhat- 
tans,  Algonquins,  and  various  other  tribes,  each  of 
whom  had  tneir  own  territories,  or  hunting  and  fish- 
ing grounds.  Extensive  confederacies  were  formed 
"among  some  of  tliese  native  tril)es.  Tiiere  was  the 
league  of  the  Iroquois,  which,  in  their  highly  figura- 
tive language,  they  represented  under  the  image  of 
a  housr,  tlie  Mohawks  being  the  eastern,  and  the  Scn- 
ecas  the  western  door.  They  were  distinguished 
both  for  ])olitical  sagacity  and  warlike  bravery. 
They  coiupiered,  or,  to  use  their  own  language,  they 
put  petticoats  on  the  Delawares  —  reduced  them  to 
the  weakness  of  women.  This  league,  which  was 
sometimes  called  the  Six  Nations,  embraced  the 
Mohawks,  the  Oneidas,  the  Or.ondagoes,  the  Seneeaf, 


INDIAN    TRADITION. 


197 


to 

'as 

|at». 


the  Cayiigas,  and,  at  a  later  period,  tlie  Tuscaro- 
ras.  Tiie  Delawarcs,  also,  were  very  nuincjrons  and 
powerful.  They  extended  over  the  whole  country 
from  York  Island  to  the  Potomac.  They  were  tra- 
ditionally the  fathers  of  many  other  tribes.  Rev. 
Mr.  Heckewelder,  who  labored  as  a  Moravian  mis- 
sionary among  the  Indians  at  a  more  recent  period, 
and  who  became  acquainted  with  what  knowledge 
they  possessed  themselves  of  their  own  origin,  says 
that  the  best  informjition  which  he  could  obtain  he 
received  from  an  ajj(!d  and  intelli<;ent  man  of  the 
Mohegan  tribe,  whose  grandfather  had  been  a  dis- 
tinguished chief.  This  Indian  informed  him  that, 
when  he  was  a  boy,  his  old  grandfather  used  to  talk 
much  about  the  early  history  of  the  nation,  and, 
among  other  things,  said  that  the  towns  and  settle- 
ments of  the  3Iohegans  extended  from  Tuphanne, 
which  means  in  the  Delaware  tongue  Cold  Stream, 
and  from  which  the  whites  derive  the  name  Ta[)pan, 
to  the  head  of  tide  water  up  the  river,  where  was 
their  uppermost  town.  He  aloo  mentioned  the 
names  of  several  tribes  who  occupied  the  country 
now  known  as  New  England,  and  said  they  were 
all  united  together  as  one,  and  assisted  their 
"  grandfather,"  the  Delawares.  against  their  com- 
mon enemies.  "  Our  grandfather,"  (the  Dela- 
wares,) said  he,  "  owned  and  inhabited  a'l  the 
country  from  the  extent  of  tide  water  above  Gash- 
17* 


■ill 


■■"111  - 
'  'III 

..an; 


..•<# 


_^,   iiiH|ia 


lys 


THE    LONG    HOUSi;. 


teiiick  (now  called  Albany)  to  the  extent  of  tide 
water  in  a  river  far  to  the  south,  where  a  place 
was  called  Pate-hani-mock,  (now  Potomac.)  Clear 
across  this  extent  of  country,  from  Albany  to  the 
Potomac,  our  grandfather  had  a  long  house,  with  a 
door  at  each  end,  one  door  being  at  the  Potomac 
and  the  other  at  Albany,  which  doors  were  always 
open  to  all  the  nations  united  with  them.  To  this 
house  the  nations  from  ever  so  far  off  used  to 
resort,  and  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace  with  their 
grandfather.  The  white  people  coming  from  over 
the  great  water  unfortunately  landed  at  each  end  of 
this  long  house  of  our  grandfather's,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  they  began  to  pull  the  same  down 
at  both  ends.  Our  grandfather  still  kept  repairing 
the  same,  though  obliged  to  make  it,  from  time  to 
time,  shorter,  until  the  white  people,  who  had  by 
this  time  grown  very  powerful,  assisted  the  common 
enemy,  the  Maqua,  in  erecting  a  strong  house  on 
the  ruins  of  their  grandfather's."  This  ingenious 
figurative  statement  corresponds  with  the  traditions 
of  the  Delawares  themselves.  This  allegory  teaches 
that  the  Delawares  were  the  head  or  chief  of 
many  nations.  Their  territory  embraced  all  the 
country  between  the  Potomac  and  the  head  of  tide 
water  on  the  North,  or  Hudson  River.  All  tribes 
and  nations,  except  the  Mingoes  and  their  allies, 
were  welcome    among  them.       To    use  their  own 


SBCS 


NEW    YORK    INDIANS. 


199 


expressive  laiifljuaj^e,  «'  the  united  nations  had  one 
house,  one  fire,  and  one  canoe."  But  the  Euro- 
peans arrived  and  took  possession  of  the  Hudson 
and  the  Potomac.  Tiiat  was  the  conirnencement 
of  the  pulling  down  of  the  "  long  house  "  at  each 
end.  Still  the  Delawares  maintained  their  national 
character  until  the  Europeans  united  with  the  Min- 
goes  and  deprived  them  of  their  lands. 

The  islands,  the  hays,  and  the  rivers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  New  York  were  inhabited  by  some  of 
these  various  tribes.  Hence,  when  Hudson  made 
his  appearance,  like  a  messenger  from  another 
world,  he  was  soon  visited  by  the  ♦'  red  men  of  the 
forest "  from  the  Jersey  shore.  They  not  only 
sailed  fearlessly  around  his  vessel,  but,  in  the  sim- 
plicity of  unsuspecting  confidence,  they  went  on 
board,  and  appeared  to  be  greatly  pleased  with  their 
j)ale-faced  visitors.  They  brought  with  them  a 
quantity  of  green  tobacco,  which  they  exchanged  for 
other  articles.  Their  costume  displayed  no  great 
skill  in  manufactures  and  no  great  taste  in  style. 
It  consisted  of  deer-skins,  well  dressed,  and  hanging 
loosely  upon  their  persone  They  expressed  a  wish 
for  European  clothes,  and  behaved  with  great  civil- 
ity. They  were  found  to  possess  yellow  copper,  and 
large  quantities  of  maize,  or  Indian  corn. 

The  next  day  some  of  the  crew  went  on  shore 
ngain,  and  saw  large  numbers  of  men,  women,  and 


•^:.;l 


:1!!|!11M 


ji 


,,<• 


200 


FRIENDLY    VISITORS. 


-*! 


i*:^ 


)i|jt)»t,' 


II 'H 


children,  who,  instead  of  heing  timid  and  fleeing 
from  thorn,  boldly  siirroimded  t.iem  and  made  them 
presents  of  tob'icco.  They  found  the  land  well 
covered  with  woods,  and  here  and  there  bushes  of 
currants,  iadened  with  fruit.  Many  of  the  natives, 
being  encouraged  by  the  kind  treatment  which  the 
others  had  received,  came  on  board  the  vessel. 
These  were  arrayed  in  more  showy  garments  than 
the  first,  some  of  them  wearing  various  kinds  of 
soft  furs,  and  others  beautiful  mantles  of  graceful 
feathers,  which,  as  they  contrasted  with  the  reddish- 
brown  of  their  own  complexion,  produced  a  highly 
picturesque  effect.  Some  of  the  women  brought 
with  them  hemp.  They  had  red  copper  tobacco 
pipes  and  ornaments  of  copper  suspended  from  their 
necks.  Towards  evening  they  returned  to  land. 
Although  these  visitors  gave  every  indication  of 
sincere  friendhness,  Hudson  was  not  disposed  to 
trust  them  too  implicitly.  An  event  soon  occurred 
which  showed  the  necessity  of  vigilance.  On  the 
morning  of  the  Gth  of  September,  the  weather 
being  fair,  .John  Coleman  and  four  others  were  sent 
out  to  make  discoveries  of  what  appeared  to  be,  at 
a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  an  extensive  river.  As 
they  passed  along  through  the  narrows,  they  kept 
their  lead  g(»ing,  and  ascertained  the  depth  of  the 
water  at  various  points.  Some  of  the  time  rheir 
lead  would  sink   but  two  fathomsi  but  at  the  north 


AN    ATTACK. 


201 


of  the  river  it  ran  out  cifrliteen  and  twenty  fathoms, 
showintj^  that  it  was  a  safe  phice  for  ships.  The 
lands  whicli  tlicy  passed  they  describe  as  covered 
with  grass,  ornamented  with  flowers,  and  studded 
with  trees,  fiUing  the  air  witli  a  sweet  perfume. 
Tliey  passed  into  the  present  Bay  of  New  York 
about  six  miles,  and  then  turned  hack.  On  their 
return  they  were  met  by  a  party  of  Indians  in  two 
long  canoes,  one  containing  twelve  and  the  other 
fourteen  men.  A  fight  took  place  between  them, 
the  Indians  being  the  aggressors.  Nijji-ht  soon  came 
on,  and  rain  beginning  to  fall,  extinguished  their 
match,  so  that  they  could  not  discharge  their  piece. 
In  this  conflict  .lohn  Coleman  was  killed  by  an 
arrow-shot  in  the  throat,  and  two  others  were 
wounded.  The  night  was  so  dark  that  the  men 
could  not  find  their  way  back  to  the  shij).  They 
were  therefore  obhged  to  be  at  their  oars,  rowing 
hither  and  thither  all  night,  carrying  with  them  the 
wounded  and  the  dead.  As  soon  as  it  was  light 
enough  for  them  to  see,  they  made  for  the  vessel. 
It  was  a  mournful  sight  when  they  ascended  the 
deck  of  the  Half  Moon,  bearing  with  them  the  dead 
body  of  Coleman,  who  the  day  before  had  left  in 
fine  health  and  spirits,  and  when  the  others  exposed 
their  wounds,  which,  for  aught  that  was  known  to 
the  contrary,  were  made  with  poisoned  arrows,  and 
would    before    long    result  in   death.      The    unfor- 


'lii 


'-'ii 


iii:<!Ul! 


..«•«> 


ip^ilp 


■:«■ 


wmt 


uHffta: 


202 


STRATAGEM    DETECTED. 


tunate  Ci  leiiian  was  taken  on  shore  and  buried  upon 
a  point  of  land,  supposed  to  be  Sandy  Hook,  but  to 
wliicb  they  gave  the  name  of  Coleman's  Point. 
Hudson  now  increased  his  r  eans  of  defence.  He 
raised  his  small  boat  on  board  and  built  a  temporary 
bulwark,  behind  which  the  men  might  be  protected 
if  they  were  again  attacked.  It  was  expected  that 
this  act  of  hostility  would  have  interrupted  the 
friendly  relations  between  the  ship  and  the  shore ; 
but  the  second  day  after  Coleman's  death  the  na- 
tives came  on  board  the  same  as  before,  and  ap- 
peared to  be  unacquainted  with  the  sad  event  which 
had  taken  place.  They  brought  tobacco  and  Indian 
wheat,  in  order  to  exchange  them  for  knives  and 
beads.  Nothing  of  an  unfriendly  nature  was  detected 
in  their  ccmduct.  But  on  the  morning  of  the  9th 
two  large  canoes,  full  of  men,  were  seen  to  leave  the 
shore.  Dipping  their  light,  short  paddles  gracefully 
in  the  water,  they  soon  attained  a  rapid  motion. 
Their  course  was  direct  towards  the  ship.  Are  their 
intentions  amicable,  or  warlike  ?  As  they  approached 
nearer,  one  of  them  was  seen  to  be  filled  with  armed 
Indians.  Their  bows  and  arrows  presented  a  very 
threntening  aspect.  The  men  who  were  in  the 
other  pretended  to  have  come  for  purposes  of  trade, 
when  their  real  object  was  to  betray  them  and  get 
possession  of  the  vessel.  Hudson  was  not  to  be  de- 
ceived.    He  at  once  discovered  their  object.     He 


^^ 


E^MR 


A    GREAT    DISCOVERY. 


203 


the 
tide, 
get 
de- 
Ho 


tliLM'efore  allowed  but  two  of  the  Indians  to  come  on 
hoard,  und  ohlijred  the  others  to  keep  at  a  dustauce, 
who  soon  returned  to  land.  Presently  another 
canoe  visited  them,  with  only  two  in  it.  One  oi' 
these  he  allowed  to  come  on  hoard,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  keeping  him.  But  this  wild  rover  of  tlie 
forest  had  no  idea  of  having  his  liberty  restricted  to 
the  narrow  limits  of  the  deck  of  a  vessel ;  he 
seized  the  first  opportunity  that  presented  itself,  and 
leaped  overbo.ird.  The  other  two  who  remained 
prisoners  Hudson  clothed  in  dashy  red  coats.  That 
night  he  spent  in  the  channel  of  the  Narrows.  The 
next  day  he  went  farther  into  the  bay,  and  on  the 
11th  he  entered  the  mouth  of  a  large  and  beautiful 
river,  between  the  Island  of  Maidiattan  and  Hobo- 
ken,  which,  from  the  circumstance  of  his  being  the 
discoverer,  has  ever  since  been  called  th*^  Hudson. 
It  did  not,  however,  receive  this  name  by  his  author- 
ity. He  called  it  the  Great  River.*  It  was  also 
very  early  denominated  Riviere  dcs  Montagues^  or 
River  of  the  Mountains,  in  consequence  of  the  high- 
lands or  mountains  through  which  it  flowed.  By 
the  New  Englanders  it  was  subsequently  called  the 
Mohegan  River,  because  a  tribe  of  that  name  inhab- 
ited its  banks.  By  the  Alohegans  themselves  it  was 
denominated  the  Mahakaneghtuc.  By  the  Iroquois 
it  was  known  as  the  Coliohatatea,  and  among  the 
Wiccapee  Indians  of  the  Highlands  as  the  Shate- 


'^ 


,!("■ 


.,.«<» 


A 


y**'  '•>?!' 


204 


SHOW    OF    LOVE. 


muc.  At  the  present  time  it  is  also,  especia.Iy  by 
the  citizens  of  New  York,  fre(]uently  called  the 
North  River,  whilst  the  narrow  outlet  of  Long 
Island  Sound,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  city,  is 
denominated  the  Efist  River. 

Soon  after  the  Half  Moon  came  to  anchor,  the 
natives  came  on  board,  probably  different  tribes 
from  those  who  visited  them  at  the  Narrows.  They 
made  a  "  show  of  love,"  left  a  present  of  tobacco 
and  Indian  wheat,  and  departed.  Hudson,  how- 
ever, placed  no  confidence  in  their  professions  of 
friendship. 


-  i*ll        .,M  ,  (!. 


205 


CHAPTER    XV. 


S'jspicioiis  Visitors.  —  Hudson's  Progress.  —  The  Highlands.  — 
Thick  Fog.  —  Eflcct  of  its  Disappcaranrc.  —  The  two  Captives 
again.  —  Catskill  Mountains.  —  Loving  People.  —  Cause  of  bad 
Luck.  —  Trade,  —  Hudson.  —  Shoals.  —  Adventures  of  the 
Mate.  —  Proof  of  Friendship.  —  Feeling  the  Way.  —  Hudson 
intoxicates  the  Indians.  —  Modest  Wife.  —  Drtmken  Chief.  — 
Eft'ect  upon  the  People.  —  Wampum.' — The  Chief  recovers. — 
Thank  Otfcring. 

On  the  morninji:  of  the  next  day  the  water  aroiiiicl 
the  ship  was  covered  with  canoes  of  different  si/.es, 
which  were  restlessly  p:id(llin<^  ahout  in  various 
directions.  They  were  filled  with  men,  women, 
and  children,  ;ind  were  evidently  there  for  an  evil 
purpose.  Hudson  allowed  none  of  them  to  come 
on  hoard,  althou«»h  he  purchased  of  them  a  supply 
of  oysters  and  beans.  They  had  large  tobacco 
pipes  of  yellow  copper,  and  earthen  pots  for  cook- 
ing purposes. 

Hudson  had  now  fairly  entered  upon  the  explora- 
tion of  this  noble  river.  Whither  it  would  lead 
him,  or  what  would  be  the  extent  or  nature  of  his 
discoveries,  of  course  he  knew  not.  As  the  great 
object  of  his  voyage  was  to  find  a  north-west  passage 
to  China,  he  may  perhaps  have  been  cheered  by  th« 
18 


'ill; 


rri 


V     »!»: 


fhii 


:'»!»» 


•il 


mm 
11 


2!)6 


ASCENDS    THE    RIVER. 


hope  tliat   be  was   now  on   the   right   track   to  that 
8))hMidici   discovery. 

The  next  day  he  ascended  four  miles  farther 
Ue  seems  to  have  been  borne  onward  more  by  tlie 
lide  than  the  wind.  Four  canoes  came  off  from  the 
shore  to  the  ship,  but  none  of  the  men  were  alh)^^ed 
to  come  aboard.  I'bey  had  hirj^e  quantities  of  oys- 
ters, wliich  they  sokl  for  a  few  trifles.  Wlicn  the 
afternoon  tide  came  in,  he  weiglied  anchor  and 
floated  up  about  cigljt  miles  farther,  in  tiie  neigbbor- 
liood  of  Pliilli])sburg  or  Yonkers,  where  he  passed 
tlie  night.  On  the  I4th  he  |)roceeded,  according  to 
Moulton,  through  Tapjian  and  llaverstraw  Bay, 
passed  between  Stoney  and  Verplanck's  Point,  left 
beliind  him  Peekskill,  and  ascended  as  far  as  West 
Point,  where  he  passed  the  night.  The  journal 
states  that  a  ])ortion  of  the  river  through  which 
they  passed  was  a  mile  wide,  and  "  very  high  land 
on  both  sides  ;  "  and  at  the  i)!ace  where  they  an- 
chored 'M,he  land  grew  very  high  and  mountainous. 
The  river  is  full  of  fish."  On  the  morning  of  the 
15th  the  mountains  and  the  river  were  found  to  be 
covered  with  a  thick  fog,  which  effectually  shut  out 
from  view  the  surrounding  scenery.  But  when  the 
warm  rays  of  the  sun  were  poured  down  upon  it, 
the  mist  was  gradually  dispersed,  until  the  lofty 
highlands  stoovl  forth  in  all  their  magnificence,  and 
the   river  was   seen  winding   around   their   base  in 


THE    CAPTIVKS    ESCAPE. 


2(>? 


ich 
and 
an- 
ions, 
the 
to  be 
out 
the 
)u  it, 
lofty 
,  and 
,se  in 


quiet  beauty,  half  concealed  by  the  dark  shadows 
of  the  mountains.  Tlie  two  Indians  whom  thev 
took  on  board  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  ch)thed 
in  showy  red  coats  had  been  exceedingly  impatient. 
They  were  totally  averse  to  this  involuntary  impris- 
<>miient  in  the  floating-house,  and  wanted  to  be  re- 
leased. As  Hudson  was  not  disposed  to  give  them 
their  liberty,  they  took  occasion  this  morning  to  leaj) 
from  one  of  the  portholes  into  the  water  and  swim 
ashore.  After  Hudson  had  weighed  anchor  and  was 
under  sail,  these  two  Indians  called  after  him  in  a 
contemptuous  manner,  and  indulged  in  various  in- 
sulting gesticulations.  It  will  be  found  hereafter 
that,  not  satisfied  with  this  scornful  conduct,  they 
sought  another  mode  to  revenge  themselves  upon 
their  captors.  At  night,  the  Half  Moon  came  to 
other  mountains,  which  are  supposed  to  be  the  Cats- 
kill,  and  the  height  of  which  is  nearly  four  thou- 
sand feet  above  tide  water.  "There,"  savs  the 
journal,  "  we  found  very  loving  people  and  very  old 
men,  where  we  were  well  used.  Our  boat  went  to 
fish,  and  caught  great  store  of  very  good  fish."  The 
next  day  being  cloudless,  gave  the  sun  a  fair  chance 
to  pour  down  his  burning  rays.  It  was  oppressively 
warm.  The  men  went  a  fishing,  but  met  with  poor 
success  ;  the  reason  of  which  was,-  according  to 
their  own  belief,  that  the  Indians  had  been  there 
with  their  canoes  all  the  preceding  night.    A  number 


% 


iliiii' 


;itW 


iiiii" 


;«•■• 


206 


CITY    OF    HUDSON. 


I  > 


m  ■"* 

«  14' 

H  mi 


Xt 


of  the  natives  came  aboard,  bringing  Indian  corn, 
*♦  poinpions,"  and  tobacco,  wliicb  they  readily  ex- 
changed for  a  few  trifles.  Part  of  the  time  the 
men  were  employed,  in  replenishing  the  casks  with 
fresh  water. 

This  was  near  where  a  city  of  over  ten  thousanti 
inhabitants  now  stands,  and  wliich  is  called,  after 
the  intrepid  navigator  who  here  paused  to  replenish 
his  Half  Moon  with  water,  the  city  of  Hudson. 

Early  the  next  morning  they  weighed  anchor  and 
sailed  up  about  twenty  miles,  and  found  shoals  in 
tho  middle  of  the  river,  with  a  channel  on  each 
si'  Some  small  islands  were  there.     In  endeav- 

or J  to  avoid  these  shoals,  the  Half  Moon  grounded 
oj  che  shore.  They  warped  her  off,  but  before  long 
she  ran  upon  the.  shoals  in  the  river.  AVhen  the 
tide  rose  she  got  afloat  and  passed  out  of  danger. 
On  the  I8th,  one  of  the  prominent  Indian  saga- 
mores, who  is  called  in  the  journal  the  Governor  of 
that  country,  took  Hudson's  chief  mate  to  his  house 
and  "  made  him  good  cheer."  This  is  probably  th 
same  visit  to  which  De  Laet  refers,  when  giving  an 
account  of  Hudson's  reception  in  latitude  forty-two 
degrees,  fifteen  minutes.  He  states  that  he  went  on 
shore  with  an  old  Indian,  who  was  chief  of  forty 
men  and  seventeen  women.  He  was  escorted  tc  a 
house  made  of  bark,  exceedingly  smooth,  and  well 
finiihed  in  every  part.     Here  was  an  abundance  of 


INDIAN    HOSPITALITY. 


^09 


long 


corn  and  beans.  On  the  outside  of  tlie  house 
there  were  quantities  of  these  articles,  sutlicent  to 
fill  three  ships,  besides  more  that  were  in  tlic  fields. 
When  he  arrived  at  the  house,  two  mats  were  spread 
upon  the  floor  to  sit  on;  Food  was  then  broiijjjht 
ill  red  wooden  howls,  which  exhibited  considerable 
skill  in  their  manufacture.  The  old  chief  sent  oft* 
two  of  his  men,  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  who 
returned  in  a  short  time,  bringing  with  them  two 
pigeons.  Not  satisfied  with  providing  this  fare,  they 
killed  a  f»i.e  fat  dog,  and  skinned  it  with  shells,  for 
want  of  better  implements.  They  had  expected 
that  Hudson  would  remain  with  them  all  night,  ibut 
when  they  found  him  determined  to  return  ,.j  his 
vessel,  they  imagined  that  it  proceeded  froni  ;  his 
fear  of  their  bows  and  arrows.  To  convince  him 
of  their  sincere  friendliness,  they  broke  their  bows 
and  arrows  to  pieces  before  his  eyes,  and  threw 
them  into  the  fire.  This  was  certainly  a  strong 
expression  of  good  will,  as  it  must  have  cost  them 
much  labor  to  make  their  weapons,  without  knives 
or  other  convenient  tools.  Moulton  says  that  these 
Indians  were  the  Wabingi,  or  the  Mohawks.  This 
must  have  been  somewhere  near  Castleton. 

On  the   19fn,  at  about  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  he 

sailed  up  six   miles  farther,  and   anchored  in  eight 

fathoms  water.     He  was  here  visited  by  many  of 

the  natives,  who  brought  on  board  grapes,  pumpkins, 

18* 


Hit 


ll.li' 


-m 


l!  ti^'H 


It  III 


Wl 


iHint 


210 


RUM    AND    INDIANS. 


beaver  and  other  skins,  wliicli  they  exchanged  for 
beads,  knives,  and  hatchets.  The  next  day  Hudson 
sent  his  mate  with  four  men,  in  a  small  boat,  to 
sound  the  river  above.  They  returned  in  the  even- 
ing, and  reported  that  two  leagues  farther  up  the 
channel  was  very  narrow,  and  the  water  only  two 
fathoms  deep.  But  above  that,  the  river  increased 
in  depth  to  seven  or  eight  fathoms.  The  next  day, 
as  the  weather  was  fair  and  the  wind  south,  Hud- 
son desiied  to  push  his  little  craft  still  fartiier  up, 
but  was  prevented  by  the  great  number  of  Indians 
who  came  on  board.  He  sent  his  carpenter  on 
shore  to  get  timber  and  make  a  fore-yard. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that,  notwithstanding  Hud- 
son's familiarity  with  the  Indians,  and  his  [)crmis- 
sion  for  them  to  come  on  board  his  vessel  in  con- 
siderable numbers,  he  had  not  full  confidence  in  the 
sincerity  of  their  professed  friendship.  He  was  con- 
stantly distrustful.  He  therefore  resorted  to  a  sin- 
gular expedient  to  detect,  if  possible,  their  treachery, 
if  any  existed.  He  and  his  mate  invited  some  of 
the  Indian  chiefs  into  the  cabin,  and  then  treated 
them  freely  to  wine  and  "  aqua  vitcSy"  that  is,  ardent 
spirits.  Their  design  probably  was  to  intoxicate 
them,  so  that  they  might  in  some  way  unwittingly 
disclose  their  evil  intentions.  In  a  short  time  the 
liquor  took  effect,  and  they  all  became  very  merry. 
One  of  them  had  his  wife  with  him,  who  conducted 


DRUNKEN    SAGAMORE. 


211 


herself  with  jiront  deconim ;  for  she  "  sate  so  mod- 
estly ns  any  of  our  country  women  wouKl  doe  in  a 
stran<i;e  place."  Presently  one  who  had  heen  ahoard 
during'  all  the  time  the  vessel  had  been  there  gave 
decided  indictitions  of  drunkenness.  The  others 
beheld  his  strange  conduct  with  amazement.  They 
knew  not  what  it  meant,  or,  in  the  language  of  the 
journal,  "  they  coidd  not  tell  how  to  take  it."  The 
whole  company  of  them  took  to  their  canoes  and 
fled  to  the  shore,  leaving  the  intoxicated  sagamore, 
in  his  helplessness,  behind  them.  They  were  not, 
however,  unconcerned  for  his  fate.  They  soon  re- 
turned, bringing  straps  of  beads.  Some  had  six, 
seven,  eight,  nine,  and  ten.  Tlwsse  they  gave  to 
their  unfortunate  chief.  It  is  probable  that  these 
*'  stropes  of  Ixjades  "  were  wami)um,  Indian  money, 
and  were  given  to  the  chief  to  enable  him  to  pro- 
pitiate those  who  had  caused  this  mysterious  spell, 
and  thus  obtain  his  liberty.  lie  remained  on  board, 
and  slept  quietly  all  night.  Tlie  Indians  did  not 
come  aboard  agjiin  till  about  noon  the  next  day. 
When  they  found  that  their  chief  had  recovered 
from  his  spell  of  enchantment,  they  were  highly  de- 
lighted. They  went  back  to  the  shore,  carrying  the 
ii'Odd  iiews  to  their  companions.  They  returned  in 
the  afteriuxm,  bringing  with  them  tob:  ceo  and  beadi, 
which  they  gave  as  a  thank-offering  to  Hudson,  and 
left  hiju. 


M? 


M' 


"ill 


'0 


<4<i<Ki 


-?.l.. 


21^ 


TENISOW. 


if  i|| 


They  repeated  their  visit  again  in  >ne  middle  of 
the  afternoon,  bringing  tobacco  and  more  beads, 
which  they  gave  to  Hudson,  and  then  "  made  an 
oration,  and  showed  him  all  the  country  round 
about."  Being  desirous  of  producing  as  favorable 
an  impression  upon  these  mysterious  strangers  a.s 
possible,  the  Indians  sent  one  of  their  number  ashore, 
who  soon  returned  with  a  large  platter  full  of  veni- 
son, which  they  hjid  cooked  after  their  own  style, 
and  which  they  gave  to  Hudson  to  eat.  After  hav- 
ing given  other  expressions  of  their  respect,  they  all 
departed  except  the  old  chief,  who,  for  the  first  time, 
had  experienced  the  disgrace  of  intoxication.  He 
preferred  to  renr.ain  longer  on  board. 


213 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

Effect  of  Ardent  Spirits.  —  Hcckewelder.  —  Singular  Tradition.  -■ 
Great  Surprise.  —  Opinions  concerning  the  Arrival  of  the  first 
Ship.  —  Effect  upon  the  Indians.  —  Preparation  for  its  Recep- 
tioji. —  Grand  Dance.  —  Exciting  Reports  of  the  Runners.— 
Salntations  exchanged.  —  A  Man  in  Red.  —  How  he  is  re- 
ceived.—  He  drinks,  and  offers  the  Glass  to  the  Indians.  —  Their 
Conduct.  —  One  of  them,  after  a  Speech,  drinks.  —  Its  Effect.— 
His  Assertions.  —  His  Example  followed.  —  General  Intoxica- 
tion. —  Presents.  —  Their  ridiculous  Use  of  them.  —  The  Whites 
considered  Gods.  —  Story  of  the  Bullock's  Hide.  —  Indians  out- 
witted. —  Locality  of  this  Scene.  —  Different  Names  of  Manhat- 
tan Island. 


The  introduction  of  ardent  spirits  among  the 
aborigines  of  this  country  has  been  among  the  most 
fruitful  causes  of  their  degeneracy  and  ruin.  It  has 
produced  alienations  between  friendly  tribes,  led  to 
murders  which  have  resulted  in  sanguinary  wars, 
attended  with  all  the  horrid  atrocities  of  Indian  bar- 
barity. Under  its  influence  they  have  entered  into 
treaties,  and  disposed,  for  a  mere  trifle,  of  immen::c 
tracts  of  valuable  land,  containing  their  hunting- 
grounds,  their  gardens,  and  the  graves  of  their 
fathers.  Hudson  has  the  honor  or  the  dishonor  of 
being  among  the  first  Europeans  who  initiated  the 
renowned  Iroquois  into  the  fatal  pleasures  of  ita 
use. 


hi**    ' 


U-  -.  ■ 


•1 


It 


4 


■)■■!  i^iL 


214 


SINGULAR    TRADITION. 


It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  remark,  tliat  a  tradition  pre- 
vails at  the  present  time  among*  these  Indians,  that  a 
scene  of  inloyication  occurred  among  them  at  the 
first  arrival  of  a  siiip.  A  similar  tradition  has  also 
been  found  among  the  Lenni  Lenape,  or  Delawares, 
a  branch  of  whom  resided  opposite  Albany  when 
[Tndson  visited  that  place.  Other  branches  of  the 
Iroquois  confederacy,  the  Monseys  and  Delawares, 
resided  on  Manhcittan  and  Staten  Islands  and  the 
.lersey  shore.  The  tradition  is  given  by  Rev.  Mv. 
Ileckewelder  at  length.  In  a  letter  dated  at  Beth- 
lehem, Pennsylvania,  January  '2(5,  1801,  he  says, 
"  As  I  receive  my  information  from  Indihns  in  their 
language  and  style,  I  return  it  in  the  same  way. 
The  enclosed  account  is,  I  believe,  as  au- 
thentic as  any  thing  of  the  kind  that  can  be  ob- 
tained." He  further  says  it  was  related  to  him  by 
aged  and  respected  Delawares,  Mohegans,  and 
IMahicanders,  nearly  forty  years  ago.  It  is  copied 
from  notes  taken  on  the  sj)ot.  This  tradition  is  so 
peculiar,  and  contains  so  many  points  of  interest, 
that  we  should  do  it  injustice  if  we  failed  to  employ 
Rev.  Mr.  Ileckewelder's  own  language.  We  copy 
it  from  the  New  York  Historical  Collection,  New 
Series,  Vol.  I. 

"  A  long  time  ago,  when  there  was  no  such  thing 
known  to  the  Indians  as  people  with  a  white  skin, 
(their  expression,)  some  Indians  who  had  been  out  u 


THE    FIRST    SHIP. 


215 


fishing,  and  where  the  sea  widens,  espitd  at  a  great 
distance  something  remarkahly  large  swimming  or 
floating  on  the  water,  and  such  as  they  had  never 
seen  before.  They,  immediately  returning  to  the 
shore,  apprised  their  countrymen  of  what  they  had 
<een,  and  pressed  them  to  go  out  with  them  and  see 
what  it  might  be.  These  together  hurried  out,  and 
saw,  to  their  great  surprise,  the  phenomenon,  but 
could  not  agree  what  it  might  be  ;  some  concluding 
it  to  be  an  uncommon  large  fish,  or  other  animal, 
while  others  were  of  opinion  it  must  be  some  \vry 
large  house.  It  was  at  length  agreed,  among  those 
who  were  spectators,  that  as  this  phenomenon  moved 
towards  the  land,  whether  or  not  it  was  an  animal, 
or  any  thing  that  had  life  in  it,  it  would  be  well  to 
inform  all  the  Indians  on  the  inhabited  islands  of 
what  thev  had  seen,  and  put  them  on  their  guard. 
Accordingly,  they  sent  runners  and  watermen  oft'  to 
carry  the  news  to  their  scattered  chiefs,  that  tlu'>«; 
might  send  off  in  every  direction  for  the  warriors  to 
come  in.  These  arriving  in  numbers,  and  their- 
selves  viewing  the  strange  appearance,  and  that  it 
was  actually  moving  towards  them,  (the  entrance  of 
the  river  or  bay,)  concluded  it  to  be  a  large  canoe, 
or  house,  in  which  the  great  Mannitto  (Great  or  Su- 
preme Being)  himself  was,  and  that  he  probably  was 
coming  to  visit  them.  By  this  time  the  chiefs  of 
the  different  tribes  were  assembled  on  York  Islandi 


iilM 


If' 


216 


REPORTS    OF    THE    RUNNERS. 


and  were  counselling  or  deliberating  on  the  manner 
they  should  receive  their  Mannitto,  on  his  arrival. 
Every  step  had  been  taken  to  be  well  provided  with 
a  plenty  of  meat  for  a  sacrifice ;  the  women  were 
rt!(juired  to  prepare  the  best  of  victuals ;  idols  or 
Images  were  examined  and  put  in  order ;  and  a 
grand  dance  was  supposed  not  only  to  be  an  agree- 
able entertainment  for  the  Mannitto,  but  might,  with 
the  addition  of  a  sacrifice,  contribute  towards  ap- 
peasing him,  in  case  he  was  angry  with  them.  The 
conjurors  were  also  set  to  work  to  determine  what 
the  meaning  of  this  phenomenon  was,  and  what  the 
result  would  be.  Both  to  these  and  to  the  chiefs 
ar  J  wise  men  of  the  nation,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren were  looking  up  for  advice  and  protection. 
Between  hope  and  fear,  and  in  confusion,  a  dance 
commenceu.  While  in  this  situation,  fresh  runners 
arrive,  declaring  it  a  house  of  various  colors,  and 
crowded  with  living  creatures.  It  now  appears  to 
be  certain  that  it  is  the  great  Mannitto  bringing  them 
some  kind  of  game,  such  as  they  had  not  before  ; 
but  other  runners  soon  after  arriving,  declare  it  a 
large  house  of  various  colors,  full  of  people,  yet 
quite  a  diiferent  color  than  they  (the  Indians)  are  of; 
that  they  were  also  dressed  in  a  different  manner 
from  them ;  and  that  one  in  particular  appeared  al- 
together red,  which  must  be  the  Mannitto  himself. 
They  are  soon  hailed  from  the  vessel,  though  in  a 


SUPPOSED    MANNITTO. 


21? 


language  they  do  not  understand  ;  yet  they  shout  or 
yell  in  their  way.  Many  are  for  running  off  to  the 
woods,  but  are  pressed  by  others  to  stay,  in  order 
not  to  give  offence  to  their  visitors,  who  could  find 
them  out  and  might  destroy  them.  The  house  (or 
large  canoe,  as  some  will  have  it)  stops,  and  a 
smaller  canoe  comes  ashore,  with  the  red  man  and 
some  others  in  it ;  some  stay  by  this  canoe  to  guard 
it.  The  chiefs  and  wise  men,  or  counsellors,  had 
composed  a  large  circle,  unto  which  the  red-clothed 
man,  with  two  others,  approach.  He  salutes  them 
with  friendly  countenance,  and  they  return  the  salute 
after  their  maimer.  They  are  lost  in  admiration, 
both  as  to  the  color  of  the  skin  (of  these  whites)  as 
also  to  their  maimer  of  dress,  yet  most  as  to  the 
habit  of  him  who  wore  the  red  clothes,  which  shone 
with  something  (the  lace)  they  could  not  account 
for.  He  must  be  the  great  Mannitto,  (Supreme 
Being,)  they  think ;  but  why  should  he  have  a  icliite 
shin  1  (their  own  expression.)  A  large  liockhack  (their 
word  for  gourd,  bottle,  decanter)  is  brought  forward 
by  one  of  the  supposed  Mannitto's  servants,  and 
from  this  a  substance  is  poured  out  into  a  small  cup, 
or  glass,  and  handed  to  the  Mannitto.  The  (ex- 
pected) Mannitto  drinks,  has  the  glass  filled  agam, 
and  hands  it  to  the  chief  next  to  him  to  drink.  The 
chief  receives  the  glass,  but  only  smelleth  at  it,  and 
passes  it  on  to  the  next  chief,  who  does  the  same. 
19 


ill 


w 


,11(1. 


ii<(|i 


i 


*• 


.11 41 


'■^i 


218 


THE    FIRST    GLASS. 


The  glass  thus  passes  through  the  circle  without  the 
contents  being  tasted  by  any  one;  and  is  upon  the 
point  of  being  returned  again  to  the  red-clothed 
man,  when  one  of  their  number,  a  spirited  man 
and  great  warrior,  jumps,  harangues  the  assem- 
bly on  the  impropriety  of  returning  the  glass  with 
the  contents  in  it ;  that  the  same  was  handed  them 
by  the  Mannitto,  in  order  that  they  should  drink  it, 
as  he  himself  had  done  before  them  ;  that  this  would 
please  him  ;  but  to  return  what  he  had  given  to 
them  might  provoke  him,  and  be  the  cause  of  their 
being  destroyed  by  him.  And  since  he  believed  it 
for  the  good  of  the  nation  that  the  contents  offered 
them  should  be  drank,  and  as  no  one  was  willing  to 
drink  it,  he  would,  let  the  consequence  be  what  it 
would  ;  and  that  it  was  better  for  one  man  to  die, 
than  a  whole  nation  to  be  destroyed.  He  then  took 
the  glass,  and,  bidding  the  assembly  a  farewell,  drank 
it  off.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on  their  resolute  com- 
panion, to  see  what  an  effect  this  would  have  upon 
him  ;  and  he  soon  beginning  to  stagger  about,  and  at 
last  dropping  to  the  ground,  they  bemoan  him.  He 
falls  into  a  sleep,  and  they  view  him  as  expiring. 
He  awakes  again,  jumps  Lj,,  and  declares  that  he 
never  felt  himself  before  so  happy  as  afler  he  had 
drank  the  cup.  Wishes  for  more.  His  wish  is 
granted  ;  and  the  whole  assembly  soon  join  him,  and 
become  intoxicated. 


INDIAN    MISTAKES. 


219 


"  After  tliis  general  intoxication  liatl  ceased,  (dur- 
ing which  time  the  whites  had  confined  theinsehes  to 
tlieir  vessel,)  the  man  with  the  red  clothes  returnee! 
again  to  them,  and  distributed  presents  among  them, 
to  wit,  beads,  axes,  hoes,  stockings,  &c.  They  siiy 
that  they  had  become  familiar  to  eacili  other,  and 
were  made  to  understand  by  signs  ;  that  they  now 
would  return  home,  but  would  visit  them  next  year 
again,  when  they  would  bring  them  more  presents 
and  stay  with  them  a  while  ;  but  that,  as  they  could 
not  live  without  eating,  they  should  want  a  little 
land  of  them  to  sow  some  seeds,  in  order  to  raise 
herbs  to  put  in  their  broth.  That  the  vessel  arrived 
the  season  following,  and  they  were  rejoiced  at 
seeing  each  other  ;  but  that  the  whites  laughed  at 
them,  (the  Indians,)  seej|ig  they  knew  not  the  use 
of  the  axes,  hoes,  &-c.,  they  had  given  them,  they 
having  had  these  hanging  to  their  breasts  as  orna- 
ments ;  and  the  stockings  they  had  made  use  of  as 
tobacco  pouches.  The  whites  now  put  handles  (or 
helves)  in  the  former,  and  cut  trees  down  before 
their  eyes,  and  dug  the  ground,  and  showed  them 
the  use  of  the  stockings.  Here  (say  they)  a  gen- 
eral laughter  ensued  among  the  Indians  that  they 
remained  for  so  long  a  time  ignorant  of  the  use  of 
so  valuable  implements,  and  had  borne  with  the 
weight  of  such  heavy  metal  hanging  to  their  necks 
for  such  a  length  of  time.     They  took  every  white 


It; 

Ijfll 

lit  it 
(H'j 
\ll 
IIP 

liiK 


•fn 


220 


THE    NATIVES    OUTWITTED. 


f' 


•*'  ■ 


•m 


man  they  saw  for  a  Mannitto,  yet  inferior  and  attend- 
ant to  the  supreme  Maiuiitto,  to  wit,  the  one  which 
wore  tlie  red  and  laced  clothes.  Familiarity  daily 
increasing  between  them  and  the  whites,  the  latter 
now  proposed  to  stay  with  them,  asking  them  only 
for  so  much  land  as  the  hide  of  a  bullock  would 
cover,  (or  encompass,)  which  hide  was  brought  for- 
ward and  spread  on  the  ground  before  them.  That 
they  readily  granted  this  request ;  whereupon  the 
whites  took  a  knife,  and,  beginning  at  one  place  on 
this  hide,  cut  it  up  into  a  rope  not  thicker  than  the 
finger  of  a  little  child,  so  that  by  the  time  this  hide 
was  cut  up  there  was  a  great  heap.  That  this  rojie 
was  drawn  out  to  a  great  distance,  and  then  brought 
round  again,  so  that  both  ends  might  meet.  That 
they  carefully  avoided  its  breaking,  and  that,  upon 
the  whole,  it  encompassed  a  large  piece  of  ground. 
That  they  (the  Indians)  were  surprised  at  the  supe- 
rior wit  of  the  whites,  but  did  not  wish  to  contend 
with  them  about  a  little  land,  as  they  had  enough. 
That  they  and  the  whites  lived  a  long  time  content- 
edly together,  although  these  asked,  from  time  to 
time,  more  land  of  them,  and,  proceeding  higher  up 
the  Mahicanittak,  (Hudson  River,)  they  believed  they 
would  soon  want  all  their  country,  and  which,  at 
this  time,  was  already  the  case." 

The  precise  spot  where  the  landing  ana  carousal 
referred  to  in  this  tradition  took  place  is  unknown 


MANHATTAN    ISLAND. 


221 


rousal 


There  is  a  strong  probability  of  its  i^encral  correct- 
ness, tlioiigb  it  is  possible  that  incidents  which  took 
place  at  ditVcrent  times  are  blended  together  in  the 
legend.  Hudson  was  dressed  in  red.  He  did  give 
liquor  to  the  natives ;  he  also  made  them  presents 
of  various  articles ;  and  it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that 
the  scenes  took  place  very  nearly  as  they  are  de- 
scribed. 

Some  contend  that  the  locality  of  this  adventure 
was  Manhattan  Island,  on  which  the  city  of  New 
York  now  stands.  As  one  evidence  of  this,  it  is 
said  that,  to  the  present  time,  the  Delawares  call 
this  island  Mannahattanink,  or  Mannahachtanink, 
which  means  the  island  or  place  of  general  intoxi- 
cation, and  that  this  name  was  given  to  it  in  con- 
sequence of  the  intoxication  of  the  Indians  by  Cap- 
tain Hudson.  The  Mohegans  call  it  by  the  same 
name,  but  suppose  that  it  arises  from  a  certain  kind 
of  wood  which  is  found  there,  which  is  well  adapted 
to  bows  and  arrows.  Other  natives  call  New  York 
Laaphawachking,  which  means  the  place  of  string- 
ing beads.  This  name  arose  from  the  fact  that, 
after  the  whites  had  left  in  their  vessel,  the  Indians 
vere  seen  in  every  direction  engaged  in  stringuig 
beads,  or  wampum,  which  the  visitors  hud  given 
them. 

19* 


P 


IIP 

rtDII* 


■  i 


VT 


m 


:l 


222 


^ 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Hudson's  highest  Point.  —  lie  descends.  —  Lands.  —  rrccs.  -^ 
The  old  Man  again.  —  Disappointed  Chief.  —  Fishing.  —  Ncw- 
hiirgh.  —  Hard  Metal.  —  A  IJoat  Thief.  —  An  AtVra^ .  —  ElVcPt 
of  a  Gun.  —  The  two  Captives  again.  —  An  Attack.  —  The  Re- 
pulse. —  Attack  renewed.  —  Falcon.  —  Its  Execution.  —  JJolh 
Parties  retreat.  —  Appearance  of  Ore.  —  Sail  along  Maiihal- 
lan.  —  The  Half  Moon  at  Sea.  —  Magic  Change.  —  Different 
Rales  of  Travel.  —  The  Time  Hudson  occupied  in  exploring 
the  River. —  Extent  of  the  Country.  —  Population.  —  English 
Prohibition.  —  Crew  mutinies.  —  Hudson  returns. 


IC 


«•■'«• 


Hudson's  explorations  extended  as  far  as  to  Fort 
Orange,  or  Albany.  Some  think  that  liis  vessel 
(the  Half  jNIoon)  a.scended  as  iiigh  as  that,  and  that 
then  he  sent  some  of  his  men  higher  up  in  the 
small  boat,  who  reached  a  place  now  called  Water- 
ford,  in  the  town  of  Half  Moon.  The  journal 
states,  "  The  two  and  twentieth  was  fair  weather. 
In  the  morning,  our  master's  mate  and  four  more  of 
the  company  went  up  with  our  boat  to  sound  the 

river    higher    up This    night,    at    ten 

o'clock,  our  boat  retitn  .ed,  in  a  shower  of  rain,  from 
sounding  of  the  river,  and  found  it  to  be  an  end  for 
shipping  to  go  in  ;  for  they  had  been  up  eight  or 
nine  leagues,  and  found  but  seven  foot  water."  The 
language  of  the  journal  is  not  sufficiently  precise  to 


HUDSON  i>i:s(:r:\Ds  tiik  uivkr. 


2-i3 


•iu 


lier. 


oi 


the 
ten 
from 
id  for 
Iht  or 
Tlie 
be  to 


enal>le  us  to  fix  (lefinitoly  the  hijrhest  pciiiit  that  was 
reached. 

The  next  day  Hudson  connnenced  his  descent 
On  the  24tii,  he  got  ajjronnd,  l)nt  was  tloiited  oil' 
with  the  rising  of  the  tide.  On  tlic  '^5th,  a  "  stiff 
gide "  blew  from  the  soutlu  As  they  conUl  make 
no  progress  down  the  stream,  tliey  went  asliore  on 
the  west  side  of  tlie  river,  and  found  large  quanti- 
ties of  oak,  walnut,  chestnut,  and  yew-trees,  and 
"  trees  of  sweet  wood  in  great  abundance,  and  great 
store  of  slate  for  !iouses,  and  other  good  stones." 
This  is  believed  to  be  the  spot  where  Athens  now 
stands. 

The  next  day  they  were  visited  by  the  old  man 
whom  they  had  intoxicated,  who  was  accompanied 
by  another  Indian,  with  their  wives  and  two  young 
squaws,  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  of  age,  «♦  who 
behaved  themselves  very  modestly."  Hudson  in- 
vited the  men  and  one  of  their  wives  to  dine  with 
him,  nw^  exchanged  a  knife  for  some  tobacco.  Be- 
fore the  visitors  dep.arted  they  invited  the  captain  to 
visit  them  when  he  should  reach  their  place  of  resi- 
dence, which  was  a  few  miles  below  where  tney 
Jien  were. 

September  27th  was  Sunday.  They  weighea 
anchor  and  ran  the  ship  down  until  she  struck  upon 
a  shoal  and  grounded.  The  old  chief  came  aboard 
again   and  invited  them  to  go   ashore  and  visit  his 


IP 
•  nil' 


•  Ml 


!■« 


1 

if 


« 


H«  •»* 


224 


A    CORRECT    OPINION. 


people.  But  tlie  vessel  ajrnin  floatinjr,  and  the  wind 
becoming'  fair,  tlicy  declined  liis  request,  much  to  his 
regret.  At  live  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  an- 
chored in  fourteen  fathoms  water.  Some  of  the 
crew  amused  themselves  with  fishing.  They  were 
successful  in  taking  between  twenty  and  thirty  mul- 
lets, breams,  bass,  and  barbils.  Ry  the  29th  they 
had  gotten  down  as  far  as  Newburgh.  The  writer 
of  the  journal  states,  "  This  is  a  very  pleasant  place 
to  build  a  town  on."  He  was  correct.  A  large 
and  flourishing  city  has  risen  upon  the  spot.  Whilst 
lying  here  the  people  brought  to  Hudson  a  stone,  in 
aj)pearance  like  emery,  which  was  harder  than  iron 
or  steel,  and  would  cut  them  ;  when  pulverized 
and  mixed  with  water  it  made  a  shining  black  color, 
and  glistened  like  black  lead. 

The  1st  of  October  was  signalized  by  an  unfortu- 
nate occurrence.  The  vessel  had  dropped  down 
the  river  some  distance  below  the  Highlands,  some- 
where near  Stoney  Point,  and  came  to  anchor.  The 
Indians  came  off  from  the  shore  in  canoes  in  con- 
siderable numbers.  Some  of  them  came  aboard 
for  traffic.  One  was  seen  as  if  carelessly  floating 
under  the  stern  of  the  vessel.  He  excited  sufjpi- 
cion,  and  was  ordered  off.  He  soon  returned  to 
the  same  position,  and  would  not  leave  it.  The 
men,  however,  kept  a  vigilant  eye  upon  his  move- 
ments.      When    he    supposed    their    attention    wae 


A    STERN    THIEF. 


22,'> 


diverted  in  another  direction,  he  left;  his  canoe, 
chmbed  up  the  rudder,  and  entered  the  cabin  win- 
dow. He  took  a  ])illow,  two  shirts,  and  two  bando- 
leer?,—  small   wooden    cases,  covered  witli   leather, 


sufjpi- 

hed   t«> 

The 

niove- 
|n    vaa 


The  Stem  Thiet 

containing  each  a  sutlicient  (juantity  of  powder  to 
charge  a  musket, — dropped  them  into  his  canoe, 
and  made  off.  lie  was  detected.  The  k  •■te,  see- 
ing him  flying  off  \vith  his  booty,  seized  a  musket, 
fired  at  him,  and  kilhd  him.  Instantlv  there  was  a 
great  scampering  among  the  natives.  So  frightened 
were  they,  that  some  leaped  out  of  their  canoes  and 
Bwam  rapidly  away.  Hudson  ordered  his  small  boat 
to   be   manned    and   go    after    the    stolen    articles. 


KNI 


^smmr 


CCNFLICTS. 


tt» 


^■! 


•»"«   m 


l€23" 


Whilst  the  men  were  executing  the  orJer  one  of 
the  Indians,  who  was  somewhat  more  courageous 
than  the  rest,  swam  to  the  boat,  seized  it,  and  made 
eflforts  to  overturn  it.  The  cook,  having  a  sword 
with  him,  immediately  cut  off  one  of  his  hands. 
The  poor  fellow  ^ank  and  was  drowned.  This  was 
a  severe  punishment,  but  perhaps  the  lives  of  the 
men  were  in  danger.  After  this  painful  adventure, 
they  descended  the  stream  about  two  leagues.  The 
next  day  they  proceeded  seven  leagues  farther,  and 
anchored  near  the  upper  end  of  Manhattan  Island. 
Whilst  lying  here,  one  of  the  two  savages  whom 
they  took  with  them  up  the  river,  and  who  jumped 
overboard  and  swam  ashore,  came  out  to  the  ves;>el, 
accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  others.  His 
object  was  to  seek  revenge  for  the  captivity  he  had 
endured  on  board  the  ship.  Hudson  perceived  his 
design,  and  suffered  none  of  them  to  come  aboard. 
But  they  were  not  to  be  defeated  in  this  manner. 
They  paddled  around  to  the  stern  of  the  vessel,  and 
then  poured  a  shower  of  arrows  into  her.  This 
was  too  much  for  patient  endurance.  Iheir  fire 
was  returned  by  a  discharge  of  six  muskets,  which 
took  fsital  effect  upon  two  or  three  of  them.  This 
added  fresh  fuel  i)  the  fire  of  revenge  which  burnt 
in  the  hearts  of  the  ignorant  savages.  A  hundred 
of  them  assembled  on  a  })oint  of  land  for  another 
attack  upon  the  vessel.     But  Hudson  caused  a  small 


one  of 

ageous 

J  made 

sword 

hands. 

his  was 

of  tho 

venture, 

.     The 

ler,  and 

Island. 

i  whom 

jumped 

5  vesi^el, 

|s.     His 

he  had 

ived  his 

aboard. 

manner. 

sel,  and 

.     This 

leir  fire 

?,  which 

.     This 

h   burnt 

liundred 

another 

a  small 


RENEWED    ATTACKS 


227 


cannon,  called  a  falcon,  to  be  fired  upon  them, 
which  killed  two  more,  and  caused  the  others  to 
disappear  in  the  woods.  A  i'cw  of  them  soon  g;atii- 
ered  courage  and  returned  to  the  attack.  Nine  or 
ten  of  them  pushed  off  in  a  canoe  once  more  to  the 
vessel.  The  falcon  was  brought  to  bear  upon  them 
a  second  time.  The  ball  which  it  sent  killed  one 
of  their  number  and  went  through  the  canoe.  Not- 
withstanding this  mysterious  mode  of  warfare,  by 
which  fire  was  brought  into  requisition  to  send  invis- 
ible missiles  among  the  enemy,  and  notwithstanding 
some  of  their  number  had  fallen  by  the  power  of 
these  unseen  weapons,  and  their  canoe  had  been 
completely  bored  through,  yet  the  Indians  did  not 
seem  disposed  to  retreat.  But  when  another  volley 
of  musketry  was  poured  upon  them  from  the  Half 
Moon,  which  killed  three  or  four  more  of  them, 
they  adopted  the  principle  that  discretion  is  the  bet- 
ter part  of  valo'",  and  fled.  Hudson,  actuated  prob- 
nblv  by  the  same  f)rincii)le,  dropped  down  the  river, 
and  came  to  anchor  in  a  bay  on  the  opposite  side  of 
mi;:  Rtr'^nm,  "clear  from  all  danger  of  them."  .luet,  in 
'»(<«  !  if.nal,  states,  "  Iljird  by  there  was  a  cliff,  that 
looked  of  the  color  of  white  green,  as  though  it 
were  either  a  copper  or  silver  mine;  and  I  tlTudt 
it  to  be  one  of  them  by  the  trees  that  grow  upon  it, 
for  they  be  all  burnt,  and  the  other  places  are  green 
as  g'^qss.    It  is  on  that  side  of  the  river  that  is  called 


V 


mw 


228 


MAGIC  change:. 


•ft 


W      if 


Manna-hatta."  They  remained  there  undisturbctl 
all  ni«rht,  though  they  had  much  wind  and  rain. 
The  next  day  the  weather  continued  boisterous ; 
hut  on  October  4th  the  wind  became  fair.  They 
weighed  anchor,  sailed  down  between  the  shores 
of  Manhattan  Island  on  one  side,  Weehawken  and 
Hohoken  on  the  other,  find,  passing  by  the  Battery 
and  Governor's  Island,  in  a  few  hours  were  beyond 
the  Narrows    /it  on  the  wide  ocean. 

How  mag;c  -  the  change  which  has  taken 
place  on  the  shoi..j  of  this  noble  stream  since  its 
lirst  exploration  by  him  whose  name  it  buars  ! 
Where  then  his  eye  fell  upon  nothing  but  the  nat- 
ural scenery,  with  here  and  there  an  Indian  en- 
campment, are  now  seen  heautiful  palaces,  flourish- 
ing villages,  splendid  cities,  and  well-conducted, 
profitable  farms.  The  water,  whose  surface  was 
troubled  only  by  the  rude  canoe  of  the  aborigines, 
clumsily  made  out  of  the  bark  or  the  trunk  of  a 
tree,  is  now  covered  by  vessels  of  all  shapes  and 
sizes,  some  of  which,  for  the  perfection  of  their 
architecture  and  the  splendor  of  their  decorations 
and  furniture,  have  a]>propriately  been  called  float- 
ing palaces.  Equally  surprising  is  the  increased 
speed  which  has  been  attained  in  navigation.  The 
distance  up  and  down  the  river,  which  occupied 
Hudson  twenty-two  days,  can  now  be  accomplished 
in  as  vmny  hours.     Similar  traiLsformatious,  to   a 


THE    CREW    MUTINIES. 


229 


its 


great  extent,  have  taken  place  in  all  parts  of  the 
land  ;  so  that  the  country  which  at  the  time  of  his 
visit  was  an  uncivilized  waste,  is  now  occu|)ied  hy 
one  of  the  most  enlightened  and  powerful  nations 
upon  earth. 

Henry  Hudson  was  an  Englishman ;  hut  when  he 
discovered  and  explored  the  important  river  which 
now  bears  his  name  he  was  in  the  emplij/  of  the 
Dutch.  Some  of  the  men  who  accuinpanied  him 
were  also  Englishmen.  This  circumstance  after- 
wards resulted  in  an  entire  change  of  his  plans  and 
of  his  whole  subsequent  history.  His  crew  were 
strongly  dis})osed  to  mutiny.  He  found  it  ditficult 
to  control  them.  After  his  exploration  of  the  river, 
he  held  a  consultation  with  them  as  to  what  course 
he  had  better  pursue.  Their  opinions  and  wishes 
did  not  agree.  The  mate  proposed  going  to  New- 
foundland, passing  the  winter,  and  seeking  Davis's 
Passage.  To  this  Hudson  was  decidedly  opposed. 
He  suggested  that,  if  they  went  to  the  north,  their 
provisions  would  probably  not  hold  out ;  that  they 
would  be  unable  to  replenish  their  stock  ;  that  a  num- 
ber of  the  men  were  on  the  sick  list,  and  that  they 
would  probably  never  return  to  Holland.  No  one  but 
himself,  however^  mentioned  HoUand.  The  English 
sailors  did  not,  because  they  did  not  want  to  go 
there;  the  Dutch  did  not,  because  they  knew  that 
tlie  English  on  board  would  be  strongly  opposed  to 
20 


w* 


■     '^^^ 


,,J 


lis 

S! 

Of 


.» 


! 


I 


I 


<•  -'-Si  M     Ik 

•■'Si*  "I 


"  •jst-'d  Wff- 


230 


ENGLISH    INJrSTTCE. 


it.  The  consultation  protluced  no  decided  results. 
Hudson  directed  the  prow  of  his  vessel  towards 
England.  He  kept  on  for  a  month  without  seeing 
any  land.  It  was  his  intention  to  return  to  Amster- 
dam and  make  a  report  of  his  important  discoveries 
to  his  employers.  But  as  he  neared  the  coast  of 
England,  his  crew  mutinied.  The  English  were 
unwilling  to  sail  by  their  own  country  and  proceed 
to  Holland.  They  longed  for  home.  They  com- 
pelled him,  therefore,  to  put  into  Dartmouth,  where 
he  arrivcJ  November  7,  1G09. 

The  rumors  of  his  discoveries  soon  became  noised 
abroad  Jn  Ej.-land,  and  secured  to  Hudson  great 
honor.  He  was  treated  as  a  person  of  more  than 
ordinary  consequence.  He  soon  sent  an  authentic 
account  of  his  voyage  and  its  results  to  Holland, 
and  had  some  correspondence  with  them  concerning 
another  voyage.  But  the  English  government,  who 
wanted  to  secure  to  themselves  all  the  benefit  of  his 
discovery,  prohibited,  it  is  said,  his  sailing  again 
in  the  employ  of  the  Dutch.  They  also  forbade 
the  English  portion  of  his  crew  to  reenter  that  ser- 
vice. If  it  had  not  been  for  these  English  sailors, 
Hudson  would  have  proceeded  to  Holland,  without 
stopping  at  England,  and  in  that  case  he  would,  in 
all  probability,  have  continued  in  their  employ.  So 
that  the  mutinous  disposition  of  these  few  English 


Hudson's  fate. 


231 


seamen  was  the  means  of  changing  the  whole  course 
of  Hudson's  history. 

He  made  three  voyages  to  this  country.  During 
Jjis  third  voyage  liis  nuitinous  crew  cruelly  commit- 
ted him,  in  a  sniall  hoat,  to  the  tender  mercies  of 
an  arctic  sea.  They  abandoned  him  to  his  fate, 
and  he  was  never  heard  from  again. 


iii 


li   ! 


■w-fwmim  mm    Ji    -" 


V 


I 


i 
I 


I 


-€  ■;, 


If -I* 

I*  '^  * 


232 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Rum  anu  Gunpowder. —  Samuel  Cliamplain.  —  His  Discovery.— 
French  and  Indian  Allies.  —  A  War  Party. —  The  Five  Na- 
tions. —  Champlain  passes  up  the  St.  Lawrence.  —  Lake  St. 
Peter.  —  Sorclle  River.  —  Indian  Deception.  —  Dangerous  Rap- 
ids. —  Vessel  sent  back.  —  Vigilance.  —  Beautiful  Country.  — 
Superstitious  Incantations.  —  Champlain's  pretended  Dream.  — 
Its  happy  Effect.  —  Passage  through  Lake  Champlain.  —  Trans- 
parent Water.  —  Unexpected  Meeting. —  Singular  Message.— 
Morning  Battle.  —  Novel  Expedient. — Effect  of  Firearms.— 
Victorious  Rejoicings.  —  Indian  Practice  after  a  Battle.  —  Tor- 
tures. —  Champlain  returns  to  France. 

Whilst  Hudson  was  exploring  the  southern  parts 
of  New  York,  and  initiating  tlie  ignorant  savages 
into  the  mysteries  of  rum,  anotlier  intrepid  and  skil- 
ful adventurer  was  examining  its  northern  borders, 
and  introducing  to  the  natives  there  a  knowledge  of 
another  article  of  fearful  energy.  With  rum  coming 
upon  them  from  one  quarter,  and  gunpowder  from 
another,  and  ere  long  both  of  these  fatal  agencies 
being  furnished  from  every  trading  establishment,  in 
quantities  to  suit  purchasers,  it  is  not  in  the  least  de- 
gree surprising  that  the  aborigines  have  melted  away 
so  rapidly.  The  fearless  and  persevering  pioneer  to 
whom  wc  refer  was  Samuel  Champlain.  He  first 
discovered  and  explored  that  long  and  beautifid  lake 
in  the  north-eastern  part  of   the  state  which  now 


SA>rUKL    CHAMPLAIN. 


233 


bears  liis  name.  For  many  years  it  was  called  Lake 
Iro^juois,  because  it  was  in  tbe  country  of  the  pow- 
erful Iroquois  Indians.  It  is  now  universally  known 
as  Lake  Cliamplain. 

After  tbe  settlement  of  Quebec,  it  was  deemed  by 
tbe  colonists  wise  policy  to  keep  on  friendly  terms 
with  tbe  neighboring  Indians,  among  whom  were  the 
Algonquins,  Les  Montagnez,  and  Hurons.  At  tbe 
same  time  the  Indians  were  gUwl  to  avail  themselves 
of  tbe  alliance  of  their  new  neighbors,  who,  they 
thought,  would  render  them  efficient  service  in  their 
attacks  upon  their  powerful  enemies  the  Iroquois. 
Having  secured  the  friendship  of  the  whites,  it  was 
not  long  before  they  obtained  their  consent  to  unite 
with  them  in  vigorous  measures  against  their  com- 
mon enemy.  A  party  of  Indians,  in  company  with 
a  few  of  the  Frenchmen  of  Quebec,  set  out,  in  1609, 
ui)on  an  expedition  against  the  terrible  Iroquois. 
Sanuiel  Cliamplain  was  one  of  their  number.  He 
was  induced  to  join  them  with  the  hope  that,  by  so 
doing,  he  might  be  able  to  bumble  the  proud  Iroquois, 
and  then,  by  negotiating  a  peace,  bring  all  the  tribes 
of  Indians  in  Canada  into  a  friendly  league  with  the 
French.  If  this  could  have  been  accomplished,  it 
would  have  been  highly  advantageous  to  tbe  French. 
Cliamplain,  however,  found  that  it  was  much  more 
easy  to  project  the  plan  than  to  carry  it  into  execu- 
tion. The  confederated  Iroquois,  otherwise  knowq 
20* 


234 


CHAM  plain's    project. 


as  the  Five  Nations,  or  sometimes  as  the  Six  Na« 
tions,  who  had  lieltl  in  clieck,  and  were  the  terror  of, 
the  trihes  for  a  space  of  tliree  hundred  miles  around 
them,  were  not  to  he  subdued.  Another  European 
nation,  who  liad  watched  with  an  eagle  eye  the  ad- 
vancing power  of  the  French  in  the  new  world,  was 
to  enter  into  league  with  the  Iroquois,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  arresting  the  fartlier  progress  of  France. 
This,  however,  was  hidden  from  Champlain.  He 
no  doubt  was  determined  to  exert  himself,  to  the 
utmost  of  his  ability,  for  the  accomplishment  of  the 
object  he  had  in  view.  He  accordingly  embarked 
with  his  Indian  allies  at  Quebec.  The  vessel  pro- 
ceeded slowly  up  the  broad  and  noble  St.  Lawrence. 
They  passed  the  mouth  of  the  Chaudiere  River  on 
the  south  ;  then  the  River  St.  Anne,  which  came  in 
on  the  north  ;  then  the  Becancour  and  the  St.  Mau- 
rice, nearly  opposite  each  other.  Here  the  St.  Law- 
rence gradually  widened  into  a  broad  lake,  now 
called  Lake  St.  Peter,  twenty-six  miles  long,  and 
containing  several  islands.  They  sailed  through  the 
whole  length  of  this  lake,  passed  by  the  islands,  and 
then  entered  a  river  which  came  in  on  the  south. 
'I'his  was  the  Iroquois,  now  known  as  the  St.  John's, 
or  the  Sorelle  River.  It  unites  the  waters  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  with  those  of  Lake  Champlain.  They 
had  not  proceeded  far  into  this  new  river  before  a 
discovery  was  made  which  convinced  Champlain  of 


CHAMPLAIN's    VIOIC.ANCE. 


the 

t»ey 


tlie  unprincipled  flu|)licity  of  his  allies ;  this  was  the 
discovery  of  impassuhle  rapids.  His  allies,  if  they 
h;id  heen  true,  would  have  given  him  information  of 
these  rapids;  but,  instead  of  that,  they  had  carefully 
concealed  them  from  him.  His  vessel  could  proceed 
no  farther.  He  therefore  sent  her  back  to  Quebec. 
Himself  and  two  faithful  Frenchmen,  who  would  not 
forsake  him,  determined  to  press  on,  notwithstanding 
the  secrecy  and  deceitfulness  of  the  Indians.  They 
carried  their  canoes  around  the  falls,  and  then  made 
preparations  for  their  night  encampment.  The  In- 
dians, according  to  their  custom,  sent  out  one  of 
their  nundier  to  reconnoitre  and  ascertain  whether 
any  enemies  were  in  sight.  He  returned  without 
making  any  discoveries.  They  then  [)repared  for 
sleep,  without  the  precaution  of  appointing  a  guard. 
Champlain  rebuked  them  for  stupidity  and  careless- 
ness ;  but  all  the  reply  they  gave  was,  that  those  who 
were  fatigued  all  day  needed  sleep  at  night.  But 
as  they  approached  nearer  the  settlements  of  their 
enemies,  they  redoubled  their  vigilance.  They  trav- 
elled only  at  night,  and  made  no  fires  in  the  day, 
lest  the  columns  of  smoke  might  reveal  their  retreat. 
Champlain  was  delighted  with  the  beautiful  nnd 
romantic  appearance  of  the  uncultivated  re^ ';:is 
through  which  he  passed.  The  islands  were  well 
clocked  with  deer  and  other  game,  whilst  the  river 
abounded    with    fish.      They    found    it    a   pleasant 


•*»•» 


2:36 


A  piietp:ndei)  dream. 


amusement  to  hunt  and  fisli  in  orde-r  to  supply  them- 
selves with  food.  On  tiiis  excursion,  Ciiam])lain 
obtained  consider{U)Je  information  of  Indian  customs 
and  character.  lie  was  especially  interested  in  th« 
implicit  confidence  which  they  reposed  in  the  mysl 
rious  powers  of  their  sorcerers  or  powwows.  One  of 
these  was  in  their  company,  who  took  occasion,  at 
one  of  their  encampments,  to  go  through  with  his 
superstitious,  terrific  incantations.  After  this  they 
inquired  for  several  days,  of  Champlain,  if  he  had 
not  dreamed  of  seeing  the  Iroquois.  He  told  them 
no.  At  this  they  were  greatly  troubled,  and  made 
no  attenipt  to  conceal  their  anxiety  from  him.  Un- 
der the  i.npression  that  it  would  aftbrd  them  relief" 
and  might  encourage  them  to  deeds  of  noble  dan" 
in  the  coming  conflict,  he  finally  told  them  that,  in  u 
dream,  he  had  seen  their  hated  enemy,  the  Iroquois, 
drowning  in  a  lake,  but  that  he  placed  no  confidence 
in  it.  They,  however,  were  filled  with  joy.  They 
had  now  no  dojibt  of  victory.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  the  powwow,  in  his  incantations,  had  associated 
Champlain,  dreaming  of  the  Iroquois,  with  a  favor- 
able termination  of  the  present  expedition  ;  hence 
their  enthusiasm  when  he  informed  them  that  he  had 
seen,  in  a  dream,  their  enemy  overwhelmed  in  the 
waters  of  a  lake.  After  this  they  pressed  on  with 
high  hopes.  They  soon  left  the  spot  where  St. 
John's  now  stands,  and  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  passed  by 


A<' 


AN    ITNRXl'KfTKr)    MKF.TIXfi. 


2frr 


)able 
liated 
[avor- 
lience 

had 
U  the 

with 
St. 

!dby 


Rnns«>'s  Point,  and  entered  upini  tlic  rnmatilic  Lake 
( 'haniplain.  For  a  hmidrt'd  and  ten  miles  did  thoy 
paddle  their  liirlit  cnukk.'s  over  this  hvantil'id  >lieet, 
pa.ssinjr  by  places  whieh,  since  then,  have  been  con- 
secrated by  important  national  events,  as  classic  h)- 
calities  in  tlie  liistory  of  the  country.  On  the  south 
<Miam])lain  connects  with  Lake  George,  which  is 
»;reatly  admired  for  tho.  transparency  of  its  watt;rs 
and  the  extreme  beauty  of  its  shores.  Pebl)les  and 
shells  on  its  bottom  can  be  seen  at  a  great  de|)th. 
It  seems  almost  like  sailing  in  the  air.  Between 
these  two  lakes  there  are  rapids.  The  intention  of 
the  allies  was  to  pass  these  rapid-,  make  an  irrup- 
tion into  the  quiet  and  romantic  valleys  of  the  Iro- 
quois, and  suddenly  pounce  upon  one  of  their  vil- 
lages. But  their  plan  was  tlnNarted  by  the  unex- 
pected appearance  of  their  enemy,  at  ten  o'clock  at 
night,  upon  the  lake.  When  they  met,  both  parties 
were  surprised  and  elated,  which  they  expressed  in 
loud  shouts.  As  it  was  contrary  to  their  practice  to 
fight  upon  the  water  when  they  could  reach  the 
land,  the  two  parties  made  directly  for  the  shore. 
The  allies  immediately  placed  themselves  in  a  po- 
sition for  battle,  by  concealing  themselves  behind 
trees  and  stumps,  or  whatever  else  offered  them 
safety,  and  then  sent  a  messenger  to  their  enemy,  to 
know  whether  they  would  fight  that  night.  This, 
certainly,  was  a  somewhat  singular  procedure.     Why 


I  'i  t 


238 


NOVEL    MODE    OF    WAR. 


did  they  not  at  once  attack  the  Iroquois,  and  let 
them  exhibit  by  tlieir  conduct  whellier  they  were 
ready  for  battle  ?  Their  enemy  sent  them  word 
tliat  the  night  was  too  dark ;  they  must,  therefore, 
wait  till  day.  Early  the  next  morning,  Chaniplain 
stationed  his  two  Frenchmen,  with  a  few  Indians, 
in  the  woods,  so  as  to  attack  the  enemy  in  flank. 
Each  party  consisted  of  about  two  hundred  men, 
all  confident  of  victory.  They  were  all  armed 
with  bows  and  arrows,  except  the  French,  who 
alone  had  fire-arms,  and  who  were  expected  by  tiie 
allies  to  determine  the  victory.  They  showed 
Champlain  who  were  cliiefs  among  their  enemy, 
and  aovised  him  to  fire  upon  them.  They  were 
distinguished  by  their  head-dress  of  feathers  being 
higher  and  more  showy  than  the  others.  Their 
plan  of  attack  was  original  and  ingenious.  The 
allies  rushed  out  from  tiieir  entrenchments  and  ran 
two  hundred  feet  towards  the  enemy;  they  then 
parted  to  the  right  and  left,  making  an  opening  in 
the  centre.  Through  this  opening  Champlain,  who 
was  in  the  rear,  advanced  and  took  the  command. 
This  sudden  appearance  of  a  singular-looking,  pale- 
faced  stranger,  with  a  kind  of  weapon  which  they 
had  never  seen  before,  created  great  astonisinncut 
among  the  Iroquois.  Whilst  they  were  wondering 
at  this  white-skinned  stranger,  suddenly  a  flash  was 
seen,  and  a  loud  report  heard,  followed  by  a  cloud 


BATTLE-FIELD    AMUSEMENTS. 


239 


cl  lei 
were 
word 
Bfore, 
•plain 
diaus, 
flank, 
men, 
armed 
I,    who 
by  the 
showed 
enemy, 
;y  were 
s  being 

Their 
The 
:md  ran 
ey   then 
2ning  »«» 
lin,  who 
)mmand. 
ng,  pale- 
ich  they 
nishment 
ondering 
flash  was 

a  cloud 


of  smoke.  It  was  the  discharge  of  an  arqiiebuse 
from  the  spot  where  Champlain  had  placed  four 
of  his  men.  When  the  Iroquois  saw,  as  the  eflect 
of  this  new  mode  of  warfare,  two  of  their  chiefs 
slain,  and  a  third  badly  wounded,  their  amazement 
was  extreme.  The  allies  rent  the  air  with  their 
wild  shouts,  and  let  fly  a  shower  of  arrows. 
Champlain  followed  up  his  success  with  another 
discharge  of  his  fire-spitting  and  ball-hurling  weaj)- 
ons.  The  enemy  were  terrified  ;  they  turned  and 
fled  in  dismay.  They  were  hotly  pursued  by  the 
victorious  army,  and  some  of  them  were  taken 
prisoners.  Tiie  corn  which  the  Iroquois  left  behind 
them  in  their  flight  furnished  a  timely  supply  to 
their  conquerors,  who  were  reduced  to  great  need. 
Two  hours  did  they  pass  upon  the  field  of  battle 
in  singing,  dancing,  and  feasting. 

So  successful  had  been  the  conflict  that  not  one 
of  their  number  had  been  slain,  and  only  a  few 
wounded.  They  made  no  attempt  to  follow  up 
their  advantage.  It  was  the  custom  with  those 
tribes  for  the  conquerors,  as  well  as  the  conquered, 
to  retreat  after  an  engagement ;  and  sometimes 
the  victors  would  exhibit  as  much  disorder  in  tlieir 
retreat  as  though  the  enemy  were  shouting  in 
full  pursuit.  One  of  their  prisoners  they  sub- 
jected to  horrible  tortures,  to  which  Cliampiain 
sooa   put  an   end.     The  vicionous  party  returned 


w^^ 


Q40 


champlain's  operations. 


to  Quebec.  In  September  followin*^,  Champlain 
sailed  for  France.  He  returned  the  next  year  and 
resumed  offensive  operations  against  these  same 
enemies,  sometimes  meeting  with  success,  and  at 
other  times  with  defeats. 


«»'->« 


»• 


'*mn 


*<»ii 


fe 


241 


CHAPTER    XIX 

Rumors  of  a  great  River.  —  Opinions  concorning  it.  —  Reasons  for 
visiting  it.  —  The  exploring  Party.  —  Wild  Rice  Indians.  — 
Their  Advice.  —  Alarming  Stories.  —  Salt  Ray  —  No  Salt.  — 
Beautiful  Landscape.  —  A  Cross  discovered.  —  Village  in  Com- 
motion.—  The  Portage.  —  Pleasant  Sail.  —  Iron  Mines.  —  The 
Mississippi  Mode  of  Travelling.  —  Welcome  Paths.  —  Ro- 
mantic Cluster  of  Villages.  —  Their  judicious  Approach. — 
Friendly  Receptior.  —  Courteous  Entertainment.  —  The  Cal- 
umet. —  Council.  —  Feast  —  Escort.  —  Meaning  of  Illinois.  — 
Departure.  —  Looking  out  for  a  River. —  Discover  huge  painted 
Monsters. 


Soon  after  the  French  had  formed  their  infant 
settlements  in  Canada,  certain  vague  nmiors  began 
to  be  circulated  among  them  that,  many  miles  to 
the  west,  was  a  river  of  great  width,  which  flowed 
many  hundreds  of  miles  through  the  country,  and 
terminated  no  one  knew  where.  On  its  banks,  at 
different  distances,  villages  of  various  Indian  tribes 
were  planted,  and  in  its  waters  fish  and  monsters 
of  gigantic  size  were  said  to  exist.  The  reports 
concerning  it,  though  indefinite  and  unsatisfactory, 
appear  to  have  been  tinged  with  no  small  amount 
of  exaggeration  and  superstition.  The  curiosity  of 
the  French  was  excited,  and  their  love  of  adventure 
called  into  action.  Brave,  enterprising  spirits  were 
not  wanting  among  them,  who  panted  for  the 
21 


mmmmm 


'=#  mt 


242 


RUMORS    OF    A   GREAT    RIVER. 


honor  of  being  able,  by  their  personal  explorations^ 
to  settle  the  questions  concerning  the  locality,  the 
course,  the  length,  and  the  outlet  of  this  mysterious 
stream.  So  limited  and  indefinite  was  the  informa- 
tion which  was  derived  from  the  Indians  respecting 
the  course  of  this  river,  that  some  believed  it  flowed 
in  a  south-easterly  direction,  and  emptied  into  the 
Atlantic.  Others  maintained  the  opinion  that,  after 
pursuing  a  south-westerly  course,  it  found  its  way  to 
the  Pacific  through  the  Gulf  of  California;  whilst 
others  believed  that  it  tended  southerly,  and  emptied 
in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  was  important,  in  a  geo- 
graphical point  of  view,  that  correct  information 
should  be  obtained.  In  addition  to  this  considera- 
tion, whatever  nation  discovered  and  explored  the 
river  would  be  regarded  as  entitled  to  the  territory 
through  which  it  flowed.  New  sources  of  trade 
would  be  opened  with  interior  tribes  of  Indians, 
and  vast  fields  of  benevolent  labor  would  be  thrown 
open  for  the  cultivation  of  Christian  missionaries ; 
for  these  Indians,  being  heathen,  needed  the  elevat- 
ing and  converting  influences  of  Christianity.  For 
these  reasons,  M.  De  Frontenac,  who  was  then  Gov- 
ernor of  Canada,  favored  an  exploring  expedition. 

Father  Marquette,  a  Roman  Catholic  missionary, 
who  was  then  a  resident  of  the  old  town  of  Mich- 
ilimackinac,  the  settlement  of  which  is  attributed  to 
liis  influence,  and  M.  Joilet,  were  considered  suitable 


■A    :ri] 


mar 


FATHER    MAUqUETTL 


243 


persons  to  have  charge  of  the  perilous  expeilition. 
Marquette  was  especially  adapted  to  this  service,  on 
account  of  his  bravery,  discretion,  rclij^ious  zeal  for 
the  conversion  of  the  natives,  and  his  acquaintance 
with  several  Indian  dialects  which  were  widely 
spoken  by  the  natives.  Five  others  were  associated 
with  them.  Father  Marquette  wrote  an  account  cf 
the  incidents  which  occurred  on  the  expedition,  by 
means  of  which  a  knowledge  of  their  adventures 
has  been  perpetuated  to  the  present  time.* 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1073,  these  seven  individuals 
embarked  in  two  canoes  on  their  excitinjr  and  dan- 
gerous  expeditioji.  The  first  tribe  of  Indians  which 
they  reached  were  called  Wild  Rice,  because  their 
country  produced  this  grain  in  great  abundance. 
Father  Marquette  informed  them  of  his  design  to 
visit  the  tribes  of  the  remote  west  and  ^outh,  and 
make  known  to  them  the  knowledge  of  the  true 
God.  These  sons  of  the  forest,  being  favorably 
impressed  with  the  good  father's  appearance  and 
doctrines,  were  unwilling  that  he  should  expose  him- 
eelf  to  the  perils  of  so  hazardous  an  enterprise. 
They  earnestly  entreated  him  to  abandon  it.  They 
pictured  it  as  full  of  terrors.  They  represented  the 
navigation  of  the  river  as  extremely  dangerous,  the 
Indians  as  cruel,  and  the  climate  as  insufferably  hot, 

•  Life  of  Ma-quette,  by  Jared  Sparks. 


«K5 


m  « 


tm  « 


244 


ALARMING    STORIES. 


They  moreover  said  tliat  the  water  of  the  river 
teemed  with  gigantic  monsters,  with  which  it  would 
he  useless  to  contend.  Their  tales  of  terror  were 
sufficient  to  have  chilled  the  ardor  of  any  other  than 
the  bravest  hearts.  But  they  produced  no  effect 
upon  Marcpiette.  Although  he  expressed  his  grati- 
tude for  the  atlectionate  interest  which  they  mani- 
fested in  his  welfare,  he  informed  them  he  had  no 
fear  of  the  aquatic  monsters  of  the  river,  and  that 
he  should  use  extra  vigilance  to  guard  against  sur- 
prise from  the  Indians.  True  to  his  design,  Mar- 
quette gave  these  Wild  Rice  Indians  religious  in- 
struction, and  offered  for  them  his  prayers.  We 
next  find  him  at  the  Bay  of  Puans,  on  the  north- 
western side  of  Lake  Michigan.  Its  present  name 
is  Green  Bay.  As  in  the  Indian  language  its  name 
signified  Salt  Bay,  our  adventurers  were  induced  to 
make  some  examination  of  the  place,  to  ascertain 
if  any  salt  springs  existed  in  the  neighborhood  ;  but 
none  were  found. 

Ascending  a  river  which  emptied  into  the  bay,  and 
which  is  now  known  as  Fox  River,  they  approached 
a  village,  beautifiilly  situated  on  a  hill,  from  which 
an  extensive  view  was  had  of  a  landscape  which,  as 
it  stretched  away  in  every  direction,  presented  to 
the  beholder,  in  pictures(iiie  combination,  the  gor* 
geousness  of  the  many-flowered  prairie,  with  groves 
of  trees  scattered  over  it,  like  islands  in  a  lake,  and 


A    CROSS    DISCOVERED. 


245 


a  dense  forest  skirting  the  horizon,  as  if  it  were  the 
green  bank  by  which  the  waters  of  this  golden  hike 
were  kept  within  their  hmits.  Here  Marquette  was 
dehghted  to  see  a  large  cross  —  the  symbol  of  his 
religion  —  erected  in  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
centre  of  the  town.  He  was  even  more  gratified  to 
perceive  that  it  was  covered  with  offerings  which  the 
natives  had  presented  to  the  Great  Spirit  as  an  ex- 
pression of  their  gratitude  for  successes  which  he 
had  granted  them  during  the  preceding  winter.  The 
cross  had  not  been  reared  in  vain. 

The  year  before  this,  Father  AUouez,  a  Catholic 
missionary,  had  labored  among  this  people  ;  and  so 
deeply  were  they  interested  in  his  communications, 
that  they  scarcely  allowed  him  time  for  necessary 
repose.  They  required  him  to  teach  at  night  as  well 
as  through  the  day.  The  cross,  decorated  with  their 
thank  offerings,  was  probably  the  result  of  his  influ- 
ence amonjj  them. 

From  these  Indians  Marquette  obtained  two 
guides,  and,  in  return  for  some  presents,  they  gave 
him  a  mat,  which  w-qs  used  for  a  bed  during  the 
whole  voyage.  Like  the  Wild  Rice  Indians,  they 
endeavored  to  dissuade  the  pioneers  from  their  haz- 
ardous expedition,  but  in  vain. 

The  10th  of  .Tune  was  a  day  of  unusual  excite- 
ment in  the  village.  All  the  inhabitants  understood 
the  object  of  their  visitors.  And  as  they  were  well 
21* 


^IM 


246 


EXCITING    OCCASION. 


acquninted  with  the  fierce,  warhke  disposition  of  the 
powerful  tribes  to  the  south  and  west  whom  this 
small  company  intended  to  reach,  they  regarded  the 
attempt  as  extremely  hazardous,  and  one  which 
would  most  probably  result  in  martyrdom.  When, 
therefore,  the  hour  arrived  for  their  friendly  visitors 
to  embark,  the  whole  village  — chief"!,  braves,  squaws, 
and  naked  children  —  assembled  together  and  gazed 
with  astonishment  upon  the  temerity  of  this  small 
handful  of  men,  in  exposing  themselves  to  the  power 
of  the  distant  barbarous  tribes,  and  to  the  perils  of 
navigation  which  they  knew  would  inevitably  beset 
them. 

The  voyagers  entered  a  river  which  emptied  into 
Green  Bay,  and  followed  it  to  a  place  known  as  the 
Portage.  Here  they  were  obliged  to  carry  their  two 
canoes  across  land  to  another  river  which  ran  west, 
called  the  Mescousin,  but  now  known  as  the  Wis- 
consin. Here  their  guides  left  them,  to  return. 
Until  now,  the  natural  current  of  all  the  water 
which  they  had  traversed  was  towards  Quebec. 
From  this  point  the  water  flowed  in  an  opposite 
direction  —  to  the  west  and  south.  As  they  passed 
slowly  on  through  the  broad,  but  shallow  Wisconsin, 
they  found  the  river  checkered  with  numerous  islands 
of  various  shapes  and  sizes,  covered  with  stately 
trees,  and  ornamented  with  brilliant  flowers  and  the 
graceful   drapery   of    innumerable   vines.     As    the^ 


SAIL   DOWN   THE    WISCONSIN. 


247 


isin, 
iiids 
tely 
the 
;hc> 


swept  along  close  by  the  shore,  various  kinds  of  wild 
fowl  were  started,  some  of  which,  as  they  left  their 
nests  or  feeding-places,  would  fly  away  with  a  shrill, 
shrieking  cry,  and  some  with  a  whirring  sound, 
whilst  others  darted  off  noiselessly,  as  if  fearful  of 
betraying  the  direction  of  their  fliglit.  Occasion- 
ally the  timid  deer  and  uncouth  buffalo  were  seen, 
but  no  Indians.  After  sailing  about  thirty  leagues, 
they  discovered  extensive  iron  mines,  the  ore  of 
which  appeared  to  be  of  good  quality.  They  con- 
tinued their  course  for  forty  leagues  more,  and  on 
the  17th  of  June  they  entered,  with  emotions  of 
gratitude  and  joy,  the  far-famed  river  of  which  they 
were  in  search.  The  friendly  Wisconsin  had  intro- 
duced them  to  the  magnificent  Mississippi  ! 

It,  of  course,  was  not  known  at  that  time  that  the 
river,  about  which  they  had  heard  such  vague,  yet 
startling  rumors,  and  which  they  had  now  reached, 
was  the  same  as  that  beneath  whose  waters  the  re- 
mains of  Hernando  De  Soto  had  found  their  last 
resting-place.  A  knowledge  of  that  fact  was  to  be 
the  result  of  future  discovery. 

Thus  far  every  thing  had  been  favorable,  and 
they  commenced  their  exploration  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
us  the  unknown  river  was  sometimes  called,  under 
encouraging  auspices  and  with  high  hopes. 

Although  they  had  seen  no  natives  since  they  left 
Green  Bay,  they  were  weP   aware   that  they  were 


248 


EXPLORING    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 


tif-' 


passing  through  Indian  territory,  and  were  liable  at 
any  moment  to  an  attack.  They  therefore  pro- 
ceeded with  great  caution.  Some  of  the  party  were 
always  on  guard  whilst  the  others  took  their  rest. 
As  they  could  not  conveniently  cook  their  food  in 
their  small  canoes  whilst  floating  down  the  stream, 
their  method  was,  to  approach  the  shore  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  afternoon,  kindle  a  fire,  cook  their  game, 
then  push  out  into  the  middle  of  the  river  and  an- 
chor for  the  night.  They  proceeded  in  this  manner 
until  the  25th  of  June,  when,  at  a  point  some  sixty 
leagues  below  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin,  they  dis- 
covered the  footprints  of  men.  They  now  knew 
that  they  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Indian  settlements. 
Looking  around,  they  perceived  a  well-trodden  path, 
which  led  into  a  prairie.  This  was  no  unwelcome 
sight.  Although  they  were  no  war  party,  stealthily 
seeking  their  unsuspecting  enemy,  yet  they  were  as 
highly  pleased  to  find  themselves  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Indians  as  were  the  bloodthirsty  warriors 
of  the  forest  when  they  discovered  the  hiding-places 
of  those  whom  they  were  pursuing  for  purposes  of 
revenge.  The  good  Father  Marquette  rejoiced  at  the 
opportunity,  which  he  now  hoped  would  be  afforded, 
of  preaching  the  true  faith  to  the  benighted  red  men, 
who  had  never  heard  the  history  of  the  cross,  and 
who  were  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge  ;  whilst 
Joilet,  being  himself  a  merchant,  was  probably  grat- 


A    ROMANTIC    VILL\GE. 


249 


ified  with  tlie  prospect  of  discovering  new  fields  for 
commercial  adventure  and  speculation. 

After  committing  the  canoes  to  the  care  of  the 
boatmen,  and  giving  them  all  necessary  instructions, 
our  two  heroes  set  out  in  pursuit  of  natives.  After 
following  the  beaten  track  about  bijl  miles,  they 
came  to  a  cluster  of  villages  quite  romantically  situ- 
ated, two  of  them  being  perched  upon  a  hill  top,  as 
if  for  purposes  of  observation,  and  the  other  nes- 
tling by  the  margin  of  a  graceful  stream,  as  if  it 
were  an  outpost  guarding  the  hill  from  the  approach 
of  danger. 

When  they  arrived  within  hailing  distance,  in  or- 
der to  avoid  exciting  suspicion  by  any  appearance 
of  concealment,  they  paused,  and  signified  their  pres- 
ence by  a  loud  call.  In  an  instant  the  Indians 
presented  themselves  at  the  doors  of  their  cabins. 
After  gazing  at  their  unexpected  visitors  a  few  mo- 
ments, they  deputed  four  old  men  of  their  tribe  to 
advance  and  hold  a  parley  with  them.  As  those 
four  messengers  approached  with  slow  and  dignified 
step,  two  of  them  performed  the  interesting  servi(;e 
of  elevating  ornamented  pipes  towards  the  sun,  as  a 
sign  of  friendship.  Encouraged  by  this  proffer  of 
peace.  Father  Marquette  broke  silence  and  inquired 
the  name  of  their  nation.  "  We  are  Illinois,"  was 
their  reply.  They  then  offered  pipes  to  the  strangers, 
und  invited  them  to  their  homes.     As  th<iy  entered 


'ZSO 


THE    COUNCIL    AND    CALUMET. 


the  villugo,  they  were  received  with  every  demoiisv.*^ 
tion  of  respect.     After  tliey  were  seated  in  the  wig 
warn  of  the  chief,  the  calumet,  or  pipe  of  peace,  was 
presented  them. 

The  Ilhnois  Indians  were  divided  into  separate 
trihes,  having,  however,  one  general  chief,  who 
ruled  over  all.  As  there  was  to  be  a  council  of  all 
these  tribes,  the  chief  invited  Marquette  and  .Toilet 
to  attend  it,  which  they  accepted.  They  were  there 
treated  with  every  mark  of  friendship.  Marquette 
explained  fully  the  objects  of  their  voyage.  The 
chief  approved  the  objects,  but  at  the  same  time 
earnestly  endeavored  to  dissuade  them  from  attempt- 
ing its  accomplishment,  in  consequence  of  the  perils 
which  would  necessarily  be  incurred.  In  return  for 
presents  received  from  Marquette,  the  chief  gave 
him  a  calumet.  This  is  an  ornamented  pipe,  the 
smoking  of  which  by  different  parties  indicates  that 
they  are  at  peace  with  each  other. 

After  the  council,  a  feast,  of  four  courses,  was 
served  up  in  Indian  style,  after  which  the  two  visit- 
ors were  publicly  conducted,  with  great  ceremony, 
through  the  village,  and  received  from  the  hands  of 
individuals  small  presents  of  ornamented  jrirdlr  auu 
garters.     When  they  returned  to  their  ^  they 

were  escorted  by  nearly  a  thousand  .ves,  who 
seemed  to  take  pleasure  in  bestowing  upoi,  the  .  all 
tlie  tokens  of  respect  in  their  power. 


TERRIFIC    MONSTERS. 


251 


The  word  Illinois  signifies  men.  Tliis  tribe,  in 
appropriating  this  word  to  themselves,  profess  to 
be  a  noble,  manly  people  ;  as  if  they  said,  "  We 
are  men,  in  comparison  with  whom  other  tribes 
nre  as  children  or  as  brutes."  Marquette  observed 
that  they  were  more  civilized  than  some  other 
tribes.  Their  language  was  a  dialect  of  the 
Algonquin,  with  which  jMarquette  was  acquaint- 
ed. They  were  ignorant  of  the  use  of  leather, 
and  possessed  no  iron  tools.  Their  clothes 
were  of  skins,  and  their  weapons  and  tools  of 
sto.'ie. 

Bidding  farewell  to  these  friendly  Indians,  with 
the  promise  of  returning  after  four  moons,  (or 
months,)  our  voyagers  pursued  their  course  down 
the  Mississippi,  with  attention  awake  to  discover 
another  large  river,  which  emptied  into  this  on  the 
west.  It  was  called  Pekitanoni,  but  has  since  re- 
ceived the  name  of  the  Missouri. 

As  they  were  flojating  quietly  upon  the  surface 
of  the  water,  their  eyes  were  arrested  by  two  huge 
monsters,  which  were  portrayed  in  green,  red, 
and  blue  upon  the  perpendicular,  rocky  clills,  on 
one  side  of  the  stream,  as  if  they  were  Gorgons, 
placed  there  to  defend  the  passage  of  the  river. 
So  bright  were  their  colors,  so  well  defined  their 
outline}  and  so  artistic  thc-r  execution,  as  to  suggest 


252 


THEIR    ORIGIN'    UNKNOWN. 


the  belief  that  they  were  the  work  of  savap^es ;  and 
yet  this  suhition  seemed  to  he  disproved  by  tlie 
height  and  inaceessibk'iiess  of  their  position.  Theif 
terrific  a|>pearanec  was  well  fitted  to  excite  the 
feurs  of  the  superstitious. 


■•    III 

r  i 


lit 

eS 


•  M. 


253 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Ifa;  juctle  discovers  the  Missouri.  —  Eflcct  of  its  Waters  upon  the 
-Mississippi.  —  Marquclle's  Opinions.  —  Tlio  Platte  and  Colora- 
do.—  The  Ohio  passed.  —  Spirit's  Residence.  —  Ochres.— 
Reeds.  —  Interview  with  Indians.  —  Possess  European  Arti- 
cles.—  Warlike  Movements  allayed  by  the  Caliinicl.  —  Interpret- 
er discovered.  —  Arkansas  Indians.  —  Escort  of  ten  Canoes.  — 
Distance  of  the  Sea.  —  The  Party  in  Danger.  —  The  Peril 
escaped.  —  Reasons  for  relnrninjj.  —  Enter  tlie  Illinois.  —  A 
Chief  invites  Marquette  to  return.  —  Reach  Chicag^o.  —  Time 
of  Absence.  —  Marquette  settles  as  a  Missionary.  —  His  Pre- 
sentiment. —  His  rural  Worship.  —  His  Retirement.  —  His  sin- 
gular Decease. 


Without  stopping  to  settle  the  question  whether 
those  uncouth  figures  on  the  rocks  were  natural  or 
artificial,  Marquette,  after  examining  them  as  long 
as  he  desired,  paddled  ofl*  down  the  stream.  It  waa 
not  long  before  a  rushing  sound  was  hetird  ;  then 
rapids  were  discovered.  Floating  timber  and  dead 
trees,  in  gretit  quantities,  were  seen  coming  into  the 
Mississippi  from  its  western  side.  TIh'v  had  reached 
the  mouth  of  the  Pekitanoni,  (Mis.soin-i  River.) 
Until  now  the  water  of  the  Mississippi  had  been 
clean  ;  below  this  it  was  very  turbid.  The  sediment 
brought  into  it  by  the  Peki'anoni  colored  and  ren- 
dered muddy  the  whole  river. 

As  one  object  of  this  expedition  was  to  discover 


oo 


mm 


■aw 


254 


CORRECT    rOXJECTURES. 


W-m 


•  m 


«i 


the  course  and  outlet  of  the  Mississippi,  this  was 
made  a  subject  of  special  attention  and  inquiry. 
After  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Pekitanoni, 
Father  Marquette  formed  the  opinion  that,  if  the 
Mississippi  continued  in  general  tlie  same  course  it 
had  thus  far,  it  must  empty  itself  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  lie  also  expressed  the  belief  ihat,  by  fcjl- 
lowing  the  Pekitanoni,  another  river  might  he 
reached,  which  discharged  its  waters  into  the  Gulf 
of  California.  The  sagacity  of  the  good  father 
may  be  inferred  from  the  correctness  of  his  con- 
jectures. The  Mississippi  does  empty,  as  he  su|)- 
j)oscd,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  tlie  north  fork 
of  the  PlMtte  River,  which  is  a  branch  of  the  Piki- 
tanoni,  extends  to  witiiin  a  short  distance  of  the 
sources  of  the  Colorado,  wliich  empties  into  the 
Gulf  of  California.  'I'he  Piatte  and  the  Colorado 
Rivers  both  take  their  rise  in  tlie  Cordilleras  Moun- 
tains, and  tlow  in  opposite  tlircctions  —  tlie  former 
through  the  (iulf  of  Mexico  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
the  latter  through  the  (Julf  of  CaUf(»rnia  into  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  Marquette  was  right  in  both  of  his 
opinions. 

Another  river  which  they  came  to,  that  dis'* 
charged  its  waters  into  tlie  ^Mississippi,  was  cal'ed 
Ouabouskigou.  This  came  in  fr<»m  the  east,  and  is 
now  called  the  Ohio.  Near  its  mouth  is  a  place 
which  was  regarded  by  the  Indians  as  the  residenc«» 


MARQrETTK  S    DISCOVKRIKS. 


2.% 


s  was 

<liury. 

atioui, 

if  the 

irse  it 

ulf  of 

by  fol- 

;rlit    be 

B  Gulf 
father 

is  coii- 

lie  siij)- 

ih   fork 

le  PeUi- 
of  tlie 

tiito  the 
h)racl() 
M(»un- 
former 
Ocean, 
nto  the 
\  of  his 

lat  (Us* 
s  cal'f^d 
t,  and  is 
a  phice 
•sidenc*' 


of  some  evil  spirit,  and  a^^aiiif^t  which  Marq  icttt 
had  been  seriously  cautioned.  An  island  in  the  rivei 
divided  the  waters,  and  sent  a  portion  with  «?rea\ 
force  a«!fainst  a  ledjje  of  rocks,  from  which  thev  re- 
coiled  with  a  loud  noise,  and  tlten  stole  rapidly 
away  through  a  narrow  and  dangerous  channel. 

They  also  discovered  in  this  vicinity  iron  ore, 
earths,  or  ochres,  of  purple,  red,  and  violet  colors, 
some  of  which,  coming  in  contact  with  the  oar,  pro- 
duced a  stain  which  remained  for  more  than  two 
weeks.  Tall  reeds  now  began  to  grow  along  the 
shores,  and  mosquitoes  became  numerous  and  trouble- 
some. 

Some  Indians  presented  themselves  upon  the 
bank  of  the  river,  and  appeared  to  be  waiting  for 
the  approach  of  the  voyagers.  Not  knowing  what 
their  character  might  be,  the  bofitmen  prepared  for 
battle  ;  but  the  missionary  Marquette  raised  his  cal- 
umet and  spoke  to  them  in  Huron.  They  made  no 
reply,  but  invited  them,  by  signs,  to  land  and  take 
some  food.  Their  invitation  was  accepted.  Mar- 
quette noticed  that  this  tribe  were  better  provided 
with  weapons  and  tools  than  the  Illinois  were. 
They  had  iron  hoes,  hatchets,  knives,  and  guns. 
They  carried  their  powder  in  glass  bottles.  As 
they  could  not  have  manufactured  these,  it  was  cvi 
dent  that  they  had  had  intercourse  with  Europeans 
Upon    inquiry,    Marquette    ascertained    that    tliest 


250 


WARLIKE    DEMONSTUATION. 


Ill 


,J:  f 


*    P' 


articles  were  purcliased  of  men  who  came  from  the 
east  and  dressed  as  he  did,  who  had  imaj^es  and 
beads,  and  performed  on  different  instruments. 
Thej  were  prohahly  Europeans,  who  had  formed 
settlements  in  Carolina  and  Virginia.  After  in- 
structing them  in  the  elements  of  the  Christian 
religion  and  giving  them  some  medals,  Marcjuette 
continued  his  journey.  The  next  village  he  came 
to  was  called  Metchigamea,  the  inhabitants  of  which, 
at  first,  made  some  warlike  demonstrations.  They 
came  out  armed  with  bows,  arrows,  tomahawks,  and 
clubs,  and  threatened  to  attack  them.  Marquette 
raised  his  calumet.  The  young  warriors,  pretend- 
ing not  to  see  it,  were  about  to  open  the  battle, 
when  some  old  men  made  their  appearance,  who,  as 
soon  as  they  saw  the  pipe  of  peace  in  Marquette's 
hand,  constrained  the  young  savages  to  desist,  and, 
casting  their  own  weapons  at  the  feet  of  the  visit- 
ors, they  entered  the  canoes  and  invited  them  to 
land.  Their  invitation  was  accepted,  though  with 
some  apprehension.  Mar<|uette  addressed  them  in 
six  different  languages,  but  was  unsuccessful  in  mak- 
ing them  understand,  until  an  old  man  was  found 
who  had  some  acquaintance  with  the  language  of 
the  Illinois.  Through  him,  as  an  interpreter,  Mar- 
quette informed  them  of  his  intention  t<:  proceed  to 
the  sea,  and  asked  of  them  information  as  to  the 
'listance.     He   also  gave  them,   as   usual,  religious 


^ii: 


Ifi 


AKAMSCA. 


257 


visit- 

n   to 

with 

hi  ill 


Omul 


le    oi 


3d  to 
the 


b 


ItriuUd 


instruction.  They  referred  hlin  to  a  town  some 
thirty  miles  farther  down  the  river,  called  Akamsca, 
(or  Arkansas,)  for  the  information  he  desired.  He 
spent  the  night,  though  with  some  degree  of  un- 
easiness, on  sljore  among  this  people.  The  next 
day  lie  took  the  newly-found  interpreter,  and  has- 
tened to  Akamsca.  When  he  had  arrived  within 
about  two  miles  of  it,  he  met  canoes  fdled  witli  sav- 
ages. As  they  approached,  the  chief  presented  the 
calumet,  and  invited  them  to  go  ashore.  They 
were  received  with  kindness,  and  supplied  with 
stores.  They  were  ac(!ompaniL'(l  from  Mctchigamea 
by  ten  canoes  of  Indians,  who  preceded  them  on  the 
water,  as  if  to  show  them  the  way.  At  Akamsca 
they  very  fortunately  found  a  young  man  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  Illinois  language,  and 
through  whom  coinnnmications  could  be  made  to 
these  Indians  with  some  degree  of  ease  and  cor 
rectness. 

After  making  these  Indians  presents,  as  was  his 
usual  custom,  he  learnt  from  them  that  the  sea  was 
only  five  days  distant,  hut  they  could  give  him  no 
additional  information,  as  between  them  and  it  the 
river  was  infested  by  tribes  with  whom  tiiey  were  at 
war,  and  who  prevciited  them  from  holding  inter- 
course with  the  inliabitants  who  dwelt  lower  down. 

Whilst  at  Aku'ijsca,  our  corii|)any  of  trustful 
voyagers  were  exposed  to  some  peril.     The  elderi 


"^ 


258 


DANCE    OF    THE    CALUMET. 


'  «   *: 


''■  t    '    ' 

• 

i 

of  the  Indians,  who  embraced  the  wise  men  and 
counsellors  of  the  tribe,  held  a  secret  nieetinjij,  jit 
whicii  they  seriously  deliberated  upon  the  nieasurcH 
to  be  adopted  in  their  treatment  of  these  novel, 
pale-faced  visitors.  Some  were  in  favor  (.f  mur- 
derinjr  them,  and  then  taking  possession  of  their 
property.  This  they  could  easily  have  done.  The 
chief,  however,  would  not  consent.  He  favored  a 
more  peaceful  course.  A  kind  Providence  caused 
liis  counsels  to  prevail.  The  result  was  that  Mar- 
quette and  Joilet  were  invited  to  attend  the  interest- 
ing ceremony  of  the  dance  of  the  calumet,  ct  the 
conclusion  of  which  the  chief  gave  them  a  calumet, 
as  an  expression  of  his  friendly  feelings  towards 
them. 

The  question  was  now  considered  whether  it  was 
expedient  to  proceed  farther  south.  Being  per- 
suaded, from  the  general  southerly  direction  of  this 
crooked  river,  that  it  could  neither  empty  into  the 
Atlantic  at  the  east,  nor  into  the  Gulf  of  California 
at  the  west,  but  that  its  outlet  must  be  into  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  they  had  accomplished  one  prominent 
object  of  their  expedition.  As  it  was  possible  that 
by  penetrating  farther  south  they  might  be  attacked 
by  the  more  warlike  tribes  and  taken  prisoners,  and 
thus  the  results  of  their  discoveries  be  lost  to  the 
civilized  world,  they  decided  that  the  wisest  policy 
was  to  return.     They  had  now  been  a  month  upon 


REASON'S    FOR    IlKTrRNIXG. 


259 


and 

OVC'l, 

inur* 
tlieir 

The 
red  a 
aused 

IVIar- 
terest- 
tt  the 
iluniet, 
awards 

it  was 
^g  per- 
of  this 
uto  the 
difornia 
le  Gulf 
oniineiil 

le  that 
Attacked 
ers,  and 
t  to  the 

t  policy 
ith  upoa 


the  river,  diirinj^  which  time  tiiey  had  traced  its  ser- 
pentine \vindin<jfs  from  tlie  forty-second  to  the  thirty- 
fourth  de^^ree  of  Jntitutle;  had  examined  the  nature 
of  the  country,  the  character  of  tiie  inhahitants,  and 
had  been  privileired  to  preacii  the  gospel  to  those 
who  had  never  hefore  heard  the  name  of  Christ. 

On  tiieir  return,  instead  of  ascending  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Wisconsin,  hy  which  they  had  entered 
it,  they  turned  into  the  Illinois,  which  conducted 
them  by  a  nuich  shorter  route  to  Lake  INIichigan. 
On  the  hanks  of  ti»e  Illinois  they  visited  a  village, 
where  they  «(ave  reli<,nous  instruction  to  an  attentive, 
inquiring  people.  The  chief  was  so  much  pleased 
that  he  entreated  Marquette  to  return  c.  1  teach 
them  more  fully.  Some  of  tltc  young  men  of  this 
tribe,  with  a  chief,  accompanied  our  party  as  far  as 
the  Lake  Michigan,  near,  probably,  the  place  where 
Chicago  now  stands.  From  thence  it  was  easy  for 
them,  by  following  the  shore,  to  find  their  way  to 
Green  Bay.  They  reached  here  in  September,  after 
an  absence  of  four  months,  during  which  time  they 
had  travelled  over  two  thousand  five  hundred  miles. 

After  this  Marquette  became  a  mistsionary  among 
the  ]Miamis,  and  made  it  his  home  near  the  southern 
extremity  of  Lake  Michigan.  He  died  under  some- 
what p(!culiar  circumstances.  On  one  occasion, 
when  sailinjr  alonii;  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake,  he 
♦wrned  into  a  small  river,  at  the  same  time  express- 


^i^WPIPP 


smm 


i  , 


illnwi«  i 


.T^Qlg 


3 


260 


Marquette's  singular  death. 


ing  the  presentiment  that  that  would  be  the  termina- 
tion of  his  voya^re.  Beinjr  stroni^ly  attached  to  the 
ceremonial  of  liis  church,  he  landed,  reared  an  altar, 
and  there,  in  the  grand  cathedral  of  Nature,  with 
pointed  arches  formed  by  the  meeting  of  the  green 
boughs  above  him  and  the  soft  carpeted  earth  be- 
neath him,  with  the  incense  of  fragrant  flowers,  and 
accompanied  with  the  melody  of  birds,  he  per- 
formed the  solemn  service  of  the  mass.  At  his 
request,  his  boatmen  left  him  alone  for  half  an  hour. 
At  the  end  of  this  time  they  sought  him,  and  were 
horror-struck  at  finding  him  dead.  The  river 
where  this  mournful  scene  occurred  has  ever  since 
been  known  by  the  name  of  Marquette.  Thus  died, 
amid  the  beauties  of  nature,  which  it  wjis  his  delight 
to  explore,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  altar  which  it  was 
his  profession  and  privilege  to  serve,  the  first  ex- 
ploier  of  the  largest  river  in  America. 


"t 

':  't;.;  ..■,  -9 

■  i  -i 

H^^^^^^H 

2C1 


CHAPTER    XXT. 

La  Salic.  —  His  Opinions  aI)ont  China. —  His  IX.  .  ^  (ur  AHvon 
fiirc.  —  His  Palonts.  —  His  Company.  —  Bnilds  a  Vessel.  —  First 
Voyage.  —  Great  Storm.  —  A  Vow  to  St.  Anthony.  —  False  Ru- 
mors.—  The  Griflin  lost.  —  Noise  forI)i(i(Icn.  —  A  Bear  shot. — 
Effect  of  the  Report,  —  Rohhery. —  False  Friendship.  —  Case 
of  Perplexity.  —  A  Battle  at  hand.  —  Efi'ect  of  a  Parley.  —  The 
Difficulty  adjusted.  —  Want  of  Food. —  Arrival  of  De  Tonty. — 
La  Salle  lost.  —  Kills  Opossums. —  Finds  the  Company.— 
Disagreeable  Voyage.  —  The  welcome  BiilTalo. —  Forsaken  Vil- 
lage.—  The  Reason.  —  La  Salle  seizes  Corn.  —  New  Year's 
Day.  —  Mass. —  Hennepin  e.xhnrts  the  Men.  —  The  Effect.*— 
Lake  Peoria.  —  Meaning  of  the  Name. 


When  the  discovery  and  the  exploration  of  the 
Mississippi  by  M.  Marquette  became  known,  it 
awakened  in  the  breasts  of  others  a  thirst  for  similar 
adventures.  Tliere  were  not  wantinj?  men  who,  if 
the  requisite  means  could  have  been  obtained,  would 
cheerfully  have  pushed  intpiiries  far  beyond  the  most 
extreme  points  which  had  yet  been  reached  by  any 
European.  Among  these,  none  were  more  ardent 
and  determined  than  Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle,  a 
native  of  Rouen,  in  Normandy,  who  had  opened  a 
somewhat  extensive  trade  with  the  Indians  who  in- 
habited Canada,  or  who  dwelt  on  the  borders  of  the 
great  lakes.  In  exchanj^e  for  European  goods,  he 
received  from  them  the  skins  of  various  kinds  of 


•  ll 


i 


262 


CAVALIER    DR    LA    SALLE. 


nmmals.*  Tl»e  njiture  of  liis  Ihi  iiicss  was  such  as 
rc'cuiired  liiin  to  nuiko  loiiir  <'X«'uisi(>ns  upon  Lake 
Ontario,  and  anion<i-  the  Ilnrons  farther  north,  by 
which  means  he  he(!anie  aeipiainted  with  tlie  fact 
that  a  chain  of  lakes,  of  great  si/e,  stretched  far 
away  in  the  interior  of  the  country  ;  and  also  tliat 
rivers  of  great,  but  indcfuiite  lengtli,  flowed  towards 
the  west. 

Tlie  great  geograpliical  problem  of  the  age, 
whether  it  was  a  possible  thing  to  go  to  China  and 
the  other  rich  countries  of  the  East  across  the  newly- 
discovered  continent  of  America,  had  long  occupied 
the  mind  of  La  Salle.  lie  had  bestowed  upon  it 
patient  and  protracted  thought,  and,  from  the  best 
infornnition  lie  could  obtain,  it  seemed  to  him  prob- 
able that,  by  following  the  lakes  with  which  he  was 
already  acquainted,  to  the  west,  they  would  either 
lead  to  other  lakes  or  else  to  the  head  waters  of  dis- 
tant rivers,  whose  outlet  was  in  the  China  seas,  and 
hence  that  it  was  a  possible  thing  to  reach  China  by 
crossing  America.  He  panted  for  the  honor  of  set- 
tling this  question.  He  also  desired  to  explore  the 
southern  part  of  the  Mississippi,  below  Akamsca, 
the  most  southern  point  reached  by  Marquette,  and 
establish  with  certainty  the  place  of  its  outlet,  form 
colonies  upon  its  banks,  and  open  new  avenues  of 
trade  with  the  distant  tribes  of  the  south  and  west 


'    \.  -•     ■  -:    , 

„ 

',1  ,     1     .           i 

ilSi 

afjWfe^Myi 

II  ■ 

JlSi.     L 

*  Life  of  La  Salle,  by  Jared  Sparks. 


wmm 


LA    SAI.LE's    PATKNTS. 


203 


After  lorifjf  aiul  patient  waiting,  and  m.iking  two 
voyaijes  to  France,  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  letters 
patent  iVoin  tlie  King  uliicli  conferred  upoii  liini  the 
possession  of  Fort  Frontenac,  situated  on  the  St. 
Lawrence,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario.  It  liail 
been  built  a  short  lime  before  by  Frcuitenac,  the 
Governor  of  Canada,  and  was  soon  alter  called  by 
bis  name,  lie  was  also  authorized  to  penetrate  to 
the  west  for  juirposes  of  discovery  as  far  as  he 
chose,  and  erect  as  many  forts  as  he  pleased,  of 
which  he  was  t(»  have  the  sovereignty  and  ownership, 
on  condition  of  sup|)orling  a  garrison  in  them  from 
his  own  resources,  and  clearing  up  a  certain  (|uan- 
tity  of  land  around  them,  lie  was  alst)  favored 
with  the  exclusive  trade  in  BulValo  skins,  an  article 
which  had  but  recently  been  introduced  into  the 
Canadian   markets. 

On  his  last  return  from  France,  La  Salle  brought 
with  him  a  company  of  thirty  persons,  ammig  whom 
were  a  pilot,  sailors,  siiip  carpenters,  and  other  me- 
chanics. As  the  new  world  did  not  furnish  materi- 
als for  ship  building,  he  also  brought  with  him  nails, 
anchors,  ropes,  and  other  necef,sary  articles  for  rig- 
ging vessels. 

After  bis  arrival,  his  first  work  was  to  build  a 
ship  on  a  small  stream  running  into  the  Niagara 
River,  about  two  miles  above  the  falls,  with  which  to 
navijate  the  lakes  and  traffic  with  the  Indians.     Th« 


204 


TiiK  FIRST  vi:ssi:l  on  tiif  lakfs. 


2^1 


»  * 


ship  was  IjuiiicIumI  amiil  the  firin«^  of  mms  and  the 
shouts  of  tlie  men,  and  christoncd  with  the  name  of 
tho  (jriHin.  So  i!n|>oi'tant  was  this  event  that  a  7e 
J)(um  was  sun<(.  As  tlie  current  of  the  river  ahove 
the  falls  is  stronjr,  the  vessel,  after  heinjf  completely 
rijrj^ed,  was  carefully  towed  alonjj  the  shore  to  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Erie.  The  Indians  expressed  j^reat 
nstonishment  at  it.  Some  of  them  even  measured 
its  size,  that  they  mi<ir|it  inform  the  Dutch  settlers 
of  New  York.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1079,  the 
voyaj^e  of  tliis  new  vessel  commenced.  As  the 
bree/e  fdled  its  sails,  it  bore  its  passengers  away 
over  the  deep  waters  of  Lake  Erie  towards  Lake 
St.  Clair.  Passing  through  this,  they  entered,  on  the 
23d  of  August,  Lake  Huron.  On  the  2(itli,  they 
w^ere  overtaken  with  a  violent  storm.  Father  Hen- 
nepin, a  Catholic  missionary,  who  was  one  of  the 
company,  in  his  account  of  the  voyage,  says, 
«♦  3L  La  Salle,  notwithstanding  he  was  a  courageous 
man,  began  to  fear,  and  told  us  we  were  undone  ; 
and  therefore  every  body  fell  upon  his  knees  to  say 
his  prayers  and  prepare  himself  for  death,  except 
our  pilot,  whom  we  could  never  oblige  to  pray  ;  and 
he  did  nothing  all  that  while  but  curse  and  swear 
against  INI.  La  Salle,  who,  as  he  said,  had  brought 
him  thither  to  make  him  perish  in  a  nasty  lake,  and 
lose  the  glory  he  had  acquired  by  his  long  and  happy 
navigations  oii  the  ocean."      So   great  were    theii 


■K 

■  c .    ■  ■ 

h.  :!■ 

the 
c  of 
I  Tc, 
hove 
utely 

I  the 
^reat 

II  red 
ttlers 

the 
\  the 
iway 
Lake 
II  the 
tliey 
Ilen- 
f  the 
savs, 


^eous 
one  ; 


d  say 
Kcept 
and 
wear 
)u»^ht 
,  and 
appy 
theit 


I 
I 


I 


FATK    OF    THK    GRIFFIX. 


2G7 


perils  tliiit  La  Salic,  atur  ofiVriiii,^  fervent  prayers  to 
St.  Aiitliony,  made  a  solemn  vow,  that,  if  lie  sluuild 
be  sjifelv  delivered  from  his  danijers,  he  would  con- 
Kcerate  the  first  ehapel  huilt  in  the  newly-diseovered 
eomitri(!s  to  that  honored  saint.  The  storm  ahated, 
and  a  harbor  was  safely  reach-  l  in  the  Island  of 
Mackinac.  They  soon  after  sailed,  and  succeeded 
in  reacliin<j^  fireen  IJay. 

As  the  adventures,  so  the  troubles  of  La  Salle 
were  now  fiirh  beiiun.  Some  of  the  I'Veneh  beinjj 
jealous  «(f  the  powers  and  privileges  conferred  up<ai 
him  by  the  pat(.'nts  of  tlu;  Kinj:',  had  circulate' 
amonjf  the  Indians  false  stori<'s  concernin^i;  his  de- 
sijius.  The  elVcct  of  this  was  to  reiuler  tlu;  natives 
suspicious  of  all  his  movcnu'nts,  and  thwart,  in  dif- 
ferent ways,  his  undert;d\in<i.  I'ven  sonu.'  of  his 
own  udherents  were  so  iniluenced  by  these  lyinf»  ru- 
mors as  to  desert  his  servire.  In  addition  to  these 
trials,  the  (JriU'm,  frci<ijht(!d  with  a  valuable  carfio  of 
peltries,  on  its  r-tu'ii  voya<!;e  to  tlie  Niaf«ara  Hivi-r, 
wiis  lost.  It  V.  as  never  heard  of  after  it  left  Clreer. 
\\i\y.  Its  r«'W  consisted  of  six  persons,  idl  of  whom 
perished.  IJcfore  the  fate  of  the  new  vessel  was 
k'inwn,  La  Salh'  commen<  t'd  his  voyujre  in  canoes 
down  Lake  Mi(hij!;;Mi.  His  compi.ny  was  reduced 
to  fourteen  pers(Mis.  They  end)arked  in  lour  a- 
noes.  After  an  unpleasant,  st(uiny  passage,  durintr 
vvhiidi  they  were   exposed  to  danger  both   from   the 


2G8 


KKAU    IN    A    TRRK. 


WtSt        ^  « 

:  « 


k'4;iU 


as 


CSS.*   ^ 


s?s: 


1 


Rlenionts  ami  tin;  savnifrs,  tlicy  j^iiccceded  in  reach" 
iiil!r  its  soiitIktii  oxtrcinify.  Tlicy  licre  obtained 
wild  <;aint'  in  MlHindaiicr,  lor  wliich  tiscy  Iiad  siif 
fiMcd.  (ira|M'  vines,  too.  prrsciitcd  tli«'ir  parplf? 
clastor.s  lor  their  use.  As  tlure  were;  iiidicatious 
that  Indians  had  rj'cently  visited  this  place,  and 
as  La  Salle  desired  to  avoid  nie(;tinj(  them,  he 
(M'dered  his  men  to  liiiard  against  niakin<<^  the  lejLst 
noise,  and  t(»  kt'ep  a  viL'"ilant  watch.  His  orders 
were  disolx'ved,  from  which  disajj^reeahle  conse- 
(|uences  had  like  to  have  ensued.      One  of  the  party 


JSIidotiim  .1  Ilo.ir  .iftcr  (Jia|M's. 

saw  a  bear    up    in    a  tree,  wliere    it    bad    probably 
climbed   in    order  to  obtain   grapes,  of  whi(di   bears 


i 


wmmm 


WlDNKiHT    UOlinKHT. 


2(J9 


lie 


ibalily 
b«;ara 


arc  very  fond.  Ti«o  temptation  wns  too  stronir  for 
a  liiiiitcr  to  iv'sifst.  liCVi'llinir  liis  iiuisUrt  at  IJiwiii, 
lie  tired  and  l)roii<rlit  i>ini  to  tlu;  <;r<>und.  La  Salle 
was  displeased.  He  appointed  a  <^nard  over  llie 
f!;oods  which  were  shelt«M'ed  under  the  inverted 
ranoes,  and  waitcul  to  s(;e  what  woidd  he  the  result 
ol'  this  act  of  disohedience.  Durinj:;  the  nijrht, 
several  Indians  cauti()usly  cJiine  into  the  camp, 
and,  hy  creepin<f  silently  U|)on  their  hellies,  suc- 
ceeded in  reachin<i^  the  upturncid  canoes  willnuit 
det» ctii.n.  They  stole  a  ninnher  of  articles,  amonsT 
which  was  a  coat  heloimin;x  to  La  Salh''s  servant. 
A  little  noise  hein^  made,  tlu>  camp  was  alarmed, 
and  ev(!ry  man  s|)ran;i'  to  arms.  'I'he  intruders 
now  professed  to  he  friends.  La  Salle  told  them 
that  that  was  a  very  sin;iular  hour  for  friends  to 
make  a  visit.  'J'hey  replied  that,  havinjj^  heard  the 
riport  of  a  gun,  they  were  fearful  that  it  |)roceeded 
from  a  hand  of  the  Inxjuois  who  had  c(»m(;  out  to 
murder  tlwui,  and  they  had  taken  this  method  to 
satisfy  ihemselves  ;  hut  now  that  tlu^y  discovered 
they  were  European  Canadians,  their  fears  wt'r«? 
allaye»l,  and  they  desired  to  smoke  with  theni  the 
r  alum(!t  of  peace.  They  proved  to  he  a  wanderin;r 
party  of  Outtajramies,  or  Fox  Indians,  from  (Ireeii 
Bay.  As  La  Salle  had  reason  to  believe  that  their 
minds  iiad  been  poisoned  with  the  report,  which  hi.s 
foes  had  widely  circulated,  that  be  was  an  enemy 
23* 


^am 


n^ 


270 


A    STATE    OF    PERPLEXITY. 


■*^? 


iii! 


to  the  natives,  and  was  niakinjo^  arranffcmcnts  to 
drive  lliein  from  tlicir  lands,  or  sulijuj^ate  tliem  to 
liis  own  power,  lie  deemed  it  the  wisest  poliey  to 
keep  on  j^ood  terms  with  them,  if  possihie,  and  hy 
kind  treatment  to  disahnse  them  of  this  false  and 
injnrion.s  impression.  lie  therefore  aHowed  four 
of  tlieir  numher  to  come  into  the  camp  and  smoke 
pipes  witli  them.  In  the  mornin*^,  after  tliese  nies- 
i^en^^ers  liad  retired,  the  rohhery  was  discovered. 
Phis  clianjjcd  tlieir  relations  ajjain.  La  Salle 
knew  that,  such  was  the  ciiaracter  of  the  Indians, 
if  he  allow(;d  this  otU.'nce  to  pass  unnoticed  he 
would  lose  their  respect,  ai»d  he  liahle  to  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  same  tliin<]r-  H*-'  determined  to  |)ut  on 
II  hold  front  and  demand  restitution.  Findin<r  two 
of  their  men  in  the  woods,  he  seized  and  made 
them  captives.  One  of  these  he  sent  hack  to  his 
chief,  with  the  messajre  that,  if  the  stolen  articles 
were  not  returned,  he  woidd  put  the  other  one  to 
death.  The  in<lians  were  «(reatly  perplexed.  The 
coat  and  other  artichjs  had  heen  cut  into  fra<:;ments, 
tli(^  huttons  strip|)ed  off  and  the  |)arts  divided 
umonj;  dilVerent  individuals.  To  return  them  was 
impossihle.  Still,  as  they  were  unwillin«:^  that  one 
of  their  men  should  he  executed,  they  resolved  to 
deliver  llu!  prisoner  from  the  hands  of  the  Frenc'h 
!)y  force.  Warlike  demonstrations  were  made  on 
both  sides.     A  conflict   seemed  inevitable,  yet  both 


LOSS    OF    THK    (ilUFFlN. 


Tti 


made 
to  Ins 
rtick'S 
)iie  to 
The 
mcnts, 

ividt'il 
•in  was 
at   OIK' 

veil  to 
riciirh 
ade  on 

t  both 


[»artu;s  de.siicd  to  avoid  it.  Bilore  a  drop  ol' 
hlood  was  sIkH',  rrcouiMC  was  had  to  a  parley 
Two  Indian  elders,  liaviny:  their  sal'elv  iinarantied 
them,  came  to  the  French  camp  and  stated  that  the 
rohhery  was  condemned,  and  tiiat  they  would  cherr- 
fully  restore  the  stcden  articles  if  they  had  not  heen 
cut  to  |)ieces.  As  it  was,  they  a^ireed  to  return 
Kuch  thinj^s  as  were  uninjured,  and  |)ay  a  fair  com- 
pensation ior  the  rest.  Their  proposition  was 
accepted.  Hostile  demonstrations  ceased,  and  the 
alVair,  which  came  near  resultinji;'  in  a  hloody  con- 
rti<-t,  was  terminated  with  feasts,  dances,  and  other 
demonstrations  ol*  joy.  So  much  for  lirinj;  con- 
trary to  oniers.  Soon  after  this.  La  Salle  entered 
the  Miami,  now  caiied  the  St.  .Joseph's  lli\('r.  At 
tin-  jiniction  of  this  riser  with  li.ike  Michi;ian  he 
erected  a  fort,  and  calh'd  it  J'\trt  Miami.  After 
Ku(Verin<i'  f(  r  want  of  food,  they  were  ii^reatly 
cheered  hy  the  arri\al  of  the  (.'hevalier  d(!  Tonty 
with  a  (luantity  of  liesh  venison.  The  sad  intelli- 
gence was  here  communicated  to  La  Sulle  of  the 
prohahle  loss  of  tia;  (iriniii.  He  had  expected  to 
have  met  her  here  with  supplies  from  Canada,  and 
now  for  the  lir>t  time  he  learnt  tiiat  she  had  not 
been  iieard  of  >ince  she  sailed  from  Green  IJay. 
Tliis  was  a  ^reat  loss  —  the  vessel  and  carji^o  heinji^ 
valued  at  tv\tlve  tluuisand  dollar.-.  La  Salle,  how- 
ever   was    not    to    be    disccjiiraged.       Le-aving    the 


272 


LA    SALLK    GKTS    LOST. 


E 

t  1 

I 

pi?'*:  It 


r 


Miami  River,  he  piislied  on  with  his  party,  which 
had  IxMMi  iiicreasj'il  to  thirty,  to  the  j>orta<^e.  He 
here  j^ot  separalfil  froru  his  coinpaiiy.  When 
niiiht  overtook  him,  he  fired  liis  <^im  as  a  sijj^iial. 
\\r  hstened  attentively  to  hear  from  what  (Hrection 
the  answer  would  come,  hut  listened  in  vain.  Pres- 
ently he  saw  a  ligiit.  He  ap|)roa(.-lied  it.  It  was 
a  fire  kindled  in  the  woods,  with  no  one  near  it. 
A  bed  of  leaves  was  near  hy,  \\hi<h  had  e\idrntly 
been  just  used  hy  some  one,  perhaps  an  Indian, 
who  had  been  frijihtened  by  the  report  of  the  gnn. 
La  Salle  appr(»priatcd  the  hre  and  bed  to  his  own 
use.  It  beinjz;  the  nionth  of  December,  and  the 
snow  falling-,  the  discovery  of  these  comforts  was 
very  timely.  He  slept  <jnictly  fill  morning.  He 
succeeded  the  next  day  in  rcjoininj^  his  compan- 
i(»ns.  Durino^  his  randilcs  he  saw  two  opossun)s 
hanging  by  their  long  tails  fn>n>  the  branches  of 
trees.  i\v  attacked,  and  succeeded  in  killing  them 
Avith  a  club  ;  thi-n  fastening  them  to  his  belt,  car- 
ried them  int<»  camp.  After  hanging  \\\)  letters  in 
cnusoicuous    places    upon    tlu;    branches    of    trees. 


with  instructions  i'or  the  captain  of  th(.>  (irillln,  in 
case  he  should  return,  they  carried  their  boats  and 
merchandise!  over  tlu;  portage,  and  laimched  again 
njion   the  Kankakee,  tli(;  casttMU  branch    of  the  llli- 


lum 


It 


uas    a    <M>ld,    wet,    disaureeable    winter's 


tl 


voyage    down    tiie    river    in    open    canoes. 


Their 


A    WILD    mi.r.    KIM.KI). 


273 


wMch 
.     He 

When 
sijjiial. 
et'tioii 

It   NVJIS 

ear  it. 
i<lnitly 
liuliaii, 

lis  own 
ml  the 
ts  was 
.  He 
innpaii- 

lOSSUIllS 

hrs  ol" 
r  them 
'h,  car- 
ters  ill 

trtcs, 
itliii,  ill 
its  and 
1  a;xaiii 
the  llli- 
winter's 

Their 


food  hecaine  cxliausted,  and  jrame  was  sraree.  'I'ho 
men  were  hiin}^ry  and  diseoina^ied.  IJnt,  says 
Fjtther  Hennepin,  *♦  (ind's  jirovidenee  snpported  us 
oil  the  while;   and  when  s\v,  lhr<)n;:h  the  extremities 


La  Salle  huiitiiiK  O|)ossiiins. 
we  were  reduced  to,  were  past  all  hopes  of  remedy, 
we  found  a  prodi;:ious  hin'  wild  hull  lyiua  fast  in 
the  mud  of  the  river.  We  killed  him,  niul  had 
much  ado  to  jjict  him  (tut  of  iIk;  mud.  This  was 
n  jE^rcat  refreshment  to  our  men,  and  revived  their 
couraf»e  ;  for,  heinj^  so  timidy,  unexpectedly  re- 
lieved, they  concluded  that  (rod  approved  our 
desi<»;n." 

After    llouting    in    their    exposed,    uncondortuhle 


s 


274 


NKW    VEAR  S    DAT 


■*^^ 


1 

3 


f^vv^ 


i   ^.. 


mnnncr  more  than  three  hundred  miles,  they  arrived 
at  a  hirge  Indian  village  on  the  hanks  of  tlie  Illi- 
nois, near  the  inoulh  of  the  Fox  River.  Although 
there  were  hetween  four  and  five  hundred  huts,  not 
a  single  native  could  he  found.  As  this  was  the 
season  of  the  year  for  taking  those  animals  whose 
furs  were  valuahle,  all  the  inhahitants  were  gone  to 
their  hunting-grounds  for  that  purpose.  I'pon  ex- 
amining the  premises,  the  men  found  a  large  quan- 
tity of  corn  huried  in  safe  places  in  the  ground. 
As  they  had  been  living  entirely  upon  flesh,  they 
were  highly  gratified  at  their  discovery.  La  Salle 
seized  about  fifty  bushels  of  it,  and  had  it  conveyed 
to  the  canoes,  with  the  intention  of  paying  the  own- 
ers for  it,  if  he  should  ever  find  them,  as  "  the  most 
sensible  wrong  one  can  do  them,  in  their  opinion,  is 
to  take  some  of  their  corn  in  their  absence." 

The  1st  of  .January,  1680,  opened  with  the  usual 
salutations  of  the  season.  Mass  was  said,  after 
which,  as  there  had  been  much  dissatisfaction  ex- 
pressed by  the  men.  Father  Hennepin  says,  ♦*  I 
thought  fit  to  make  a  pathetical  exhortation  to  our 
grumblers,  to  encourage  them  to  go  on  cheerfully, 
and  inspire  them  with  union  and  confidence.  Father 
Gabriel,  Zenobe,  and  I  embraced  them  afterwards, 
and  they  promised  us  to  continue  firm  in  their 
duty." 

At   the    close    of    their    religious    services   they 


MEANING    OF    PEORIA. 


275 


resumed  their  voyage,  and  soon  entered  into  an  ex- 
pansion of  the  river,  tliree  miles  broad,  which  ex- 
tended twenty  miles  in  length.  It  was  called  Pimi- 
teony,  but  is  now  marked  on  the  maps  as  Ljdvc 
Peoria.  Tiie  Indian  name  signified,  according  to 
Hennepin,  a  place  where  there  is  abundance  of  fat 
beasts.  They  here  had  an  unexpected  interview 
with  some  nativ(;s,  the  account  of  which  will  l)e 
given   in  the  next  chapter. 


276 


n 


ii 


•^v 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

A  Village.  —  Rold  Approach.  — La  Salle's  Poliry.  —  Three  Ca!- 
uincts.^  Friendly  Uiiderslaiulinfj.  ^('crcnKUiioiis  Ildspitality. — 
Ln  Salle's  Explanation.  —  I'ay  (or  Corn.  —  Siiddfn  ("liaii^c. — 
Eflccl  of  Slander.  —  More  lorriMe  Sltiries.  —  I)«'s<tI«ts.  —  ,\ 
l*ro|)osi«ion. —  Fort  of  the  Itrokcn  Heart.  —  Sliip-buildinf^. — 
Hold  Ilesoliition.  —  Tron!)le.s  arciimiiiale.  —  A  constant  Friend.  — 
Change  of  Plan.  —  Tonty  with  the  Illinois.  —  Alarming  Re- 
port.—  Tonly's  Danger.  —  Sudden  Retreat. —  I'allwr  de  la  Ri- 
bonrde  walks  in  the  Wood.  —  Never  returns.  —  His  Death. — 
Painful  Travelling.  —  Sieur  de  Boisrondct  lost. —  His  Adven- 
tures.—  Three  great  Captains. 

As  our  voyagers  left  the  lower  cud  of  the  iiiirrow, 
elongated  Ljike  Pimiteony,  tiiey  suddenly  ciinie  upon 
an  encani])inent  of  savages,  of  tite  Illinois  tribe, 
which  occupied  both  sides  of  the  stream.  What 
shall  be  done?  If  these  are  Illinois,  as  is  probably 
the  case,  they  are  the  enemies  of  the  French.  This 
La  Salle  had  frequently  heard  since  he  left  home. 
lie  feared  that  they  had  heard  the  rumors  against 
him  which  had  received  their  origin  in  Canada,  and 
<jf  course  would  be  ready  to  repel  those  whom  they 
liad  been  taught  to  look  upon  as  foes  plotting  their 
ruin.  La  Salle,  as  the  emergency  required,  used 
great  caution.  He  ordered  the  canoes  into  a  line 
stretching    across   the    river,   himself  being   at   the 


THE    TiniKF.    LAI.r.MKTS. 


2-7 


rijriit,  and  tin-  riicvalu  r  dc  Toiitv  with  liis  iron  liand 
snpphinL^  tlir  pluco  of  one  Ik;  liad  lo>l,  at  tlic  \v{\. 
Wiicn  the  Indians  saw  the  htth-  llotiMa  coniin*; 
holdly  and  raj)i<lly  down  upon  them,  tliey  were 
thr(»wn  into  ii  state  of  *^rei\t  consternation.  Some 
lied  lor  safely,  some  ran  to  their  arms,  and  some 
hrok(!  fortli  into  hideous  howlin^s.  La  Salh'  was 
the  first  Ut  hap  on  shore.  He  neitlier  pursued  th<' 
Iiuhans  nor  mach*  any  warhke  movements.  H(!  had 
no  (h'sire  for  conlliet.  lie  preferred  that  all  his  in- 
t«!reourse  with  the  natives  should  he  t>f  a  |>eaeelul 
character.  He  halted  on  the  shore,  to  give  them 
lime  to  recover  from  their  surprise,  and  to  exhihit 
hy  their  actions  whether  they  were  in  a  friendly  or 
h('lli<»erent  mood.  After  a  while  the  Indians  paused 
and  trazed  at  their  invaders.  La  Salle  might  have 
raised  jjis  calumet  and  made  a  profter  of  peace. 
I5iit  as  this  miifht  hnve  heeii  construed  int(»  cowardice 
hv  the  savages,  he  ])referred  that  the  first  deuionstra- 
lion  should  come  fronj  them.  After  making  a  dis- 
tant examination  of  them  for  a  while,  the  savag(;s 
raisi'd  three  calumets.  These  La  Salh;  was  pleased 
to  see,  and,  in  reply,  he  j)resented  his.  This  inter- 
•  hange  of  jieaceful  proposals  heing  mutually  ac- 
cepted, was  f(dlowed  hy  loud  shouts  of  joy.  The 
two  |)arties  were  at  on<;e  ii}>on  friendly  terms,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent  in  merriment 
and  festivity.  The  hospitality  of  the  Indians  was 
24 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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278 


INDIAN    HOSPITALITY. 


truly  refreshing.  They  not  only  furnished  food  to 
the  weary  voyagers,  putting  the  three  first  pieces  nito 
their  mouths    with  great  ceremony,   hut    they    also 


Raising  tiio  three  Calumets. 

ruhbed  their  legs  with  bears'  oil  and  bulfalo  fat, 
which,  after  their  long,  wet,  and  wearisome  journe}', 
was  an  extremely  grateful  service. 

La  Salle  took  an  early  opportunity  to  explain  to 
them  the  objects  of  his  expedition,  commencing  his 
statement  with  an  acknowledgment  of  his  having 
taken  corn  from  their  hiding-places  to  keep  himself 
from  starving,  and  that  he  would  now  cheerfully  pay 
them  for  it  ;  or  he  would  return  what  was  still  on 
hand,  and  pay  for  the  rest,  just  as   they  preferred. 


SUDDEN    CHANGE    OF    CONDUCT. 


279 


3 


As  European  implements  were  to  them  more  difti 
cult  to  be  obtained  tban  corn,  tbey  preferred  to  part 
with  their  grain  in  barter.  Accordingly,  La  Salle 
paid  them  in  axes  {md  other  tools  for  what  he  had 
taken,  thus  making  it  to  them  a  profitable  traffic. 
This  matter  being  adjusted,  he  informed  them  that 
he  had  come  to  teach  them  "  the  knowledge  of  the 
Captain  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  the  use  of  fire- 
arms, which  were  unknown  to  them  ;  "  but  lie  said 
nothing  of  his  intention  to  explore  the  Mississippi. 
His  principal  object  was  to  render  permanent  the 
friendship  between  them.  During  the  day  every 
thing  passed  off  favorably,  and  the  two  parties  n^ 
tired  at  night  on  the  best  of  terms.  But  the  next 
day  it  was  evident  that  a  decided  change  had  taken 
place.  The  French  were  treated  with  great  cool- 
ness and  suspicion.  La  Salle  was  surprised.  He 
knew  not  how  to  account  for  it.  He  was  solicitous 
to  ascertain  tbe  cause,  and  to  guard  against  any  un- 
pleasant results.  Upon  inquiry,  be  learnt  from  one 
of  the  chiefs,  tlifit  a  chief  of  the  Fox  Indians,  named 
Monso,  had  secretly  visited  them,  and  had  called  a 
meeting  of  the  principal  men  of  the  village  at  night. 
He  v/arned  ihem  to  be  on  their  guard  against  La 
Salle,  as  he  was  in  alliance  with  their  powerful  ene- 
mies the  Iroquois,  who  were  closely  following  him  in 
large  numbers,  and  with  whom  he  intended  to  make 
an    attack    upon    this    Illinois    encampment.      This 


280 


EFFECT    OF    SLANDER. 


information  he  said  he  hfid  received  from  some  of 
La  Salle's  own  nation,  who  were  unwiHing  that  the 
Ilhnois  should  he  betrayed. 

The  coolness  and  distrust  of  the  Indians  were 
now  accounted  for.  La  Salle  perfectly  understood 
the  light  in  which  he  was  viewed  by  them,  and  at 
once  set  himself  to  work  to  rebut  the  slanders  of 
Monso.  In  this  attempt  he  was,  to  a  great  degree, 
successfid.  But  when  he  informed  them  of  his  de- 
sign, which  hitherto  he  had  concealed  from  them,  of 
going  down  the  Mississippi,  they  endeavored  to  ter- 
rify him  from  it.  They  represented  the  river  as 
full  of  whirlpools,  dangerous  rocks,  crocodiles,  and 
other  huge  monsters.  Although  La  Salle  treated 
these  stories  as  mere  chimeras,  yet  on  his  men  they 
produced  such  disheartening  results  that  six  of  them 
deserted  him  and  commenced  their  return  home- 
wards. This  was  another  painful  blow.  It  affected 
him  more  deeply  than  all  the  opposition  he  antici- 
pated from  the  Indians.  He  promised  the  others 
that,  if  they  would  remain  with  him  till  the  spring, 
and  should  then  not  wish  to  go  down  the  Mississippi, 
he  would  furnish  them  with  a  canoe  with  which  to 
return  home.  But  to  make  tlie  attempt  now,  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  when  game  was  scarce  and  the  cold 
severe,  would  be  very  hazardous. 

In  order  to  furnish  them  with  employment,  and 
thus  give  a   new  direction   to   their   thoughts  and 


r:fti 


lORT  OF  THE  BROKEN  HEART. 


281 


some  of 
that  the 

ns  were 
derstood 
,  and  at 
iders  of 

degree, 
r  his  de- 
hem,  of 
d  to  ter- 
river  as 
lies,  and 

treated 
nen  they 

of  them 
I    home- 

aftected 
e  antici- 
le  others 
)  spring, 
ssissippi, 
which  to 
V,  in  tlie 

the  cohl 

lent,  and 
;hts  and 


feehngs,  he  commenced  the  erection  of  a  fort  a 
short  distance  below  the  Indian  encampment,  and 
near  the  location  of  the  present  town  of  Peoria. 
After  it  was  finished,  he  gave  it  a  name  expressive 
of  the  sadness  of  his  feelings  under  the  accumulated 
trials  which  he  had  experienced,  calling  it  the  Fort 
of  Crevecceur,  that  is,  the  Fort  of  the  Broken 
Heart.  They  also  commenced  to  work  upon  a 
brigantine,  with  which  to  navigate  the  Mississippi. 
They  felled  trees,  burnt  charcoal,  hewed  timber, 
and,  in  the  course  of  six  weeks,  constructed  the  hull 
of  a  vessel.  But  they  were  at  a  loss  for  rings,  bolts, 
and  rigging  with  which  to  finish  it.  These  articles 
had  been  stowed  on  board  the  Griffin,  and  with  her 
had  perished.  Yet  they  could  not  do  without  them. 
What  was  to  be  done  was  a  question  more  easily 
asked  than  answered.  After  most  anxious  thought, 
La  Salle  came  to  the  bold  determination  of  return- 
ing to  Fort  Frontenac,  a  distance  of  twelve  hundred 
miles,  and  there  procuring  all  necessary  articles. 
With  five  companions,  he  set  out  and  successfully 
accomplished  the  long,  perilous,  and  fatiguing  jour- 
ney. When  he  arrived  there,  he  found  his  affairs  in 
a  most  wretched  condition.  The  loss  of  twelve 
thousand  dollars  by  the  Griffin  was  confirmed. 
Another  vessel,  ladened  with  a  valuable  cargo  for 
him,  was  lost  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Lawrence ;  his  ca- 
'  noes,  ^Ued  with  merchandise,  were  wrecked  among 
24* 


^g^g^^AlJtt    ..f 

( 

■i 

fHli^H^^H  '1 

i  '1'''' 

w 

{1 

•In 

1' 

■k'   <.M  1 

;| 

282 


LA    SALLE's    trouble  1. 


I 


:«■!' 


the  rapids  of  the  river  ;  his  agents  robbed  him  of 
the  profits  of  an  eAtens'vc  trade;  some  of  his  jjoodi 
were  stolen  and  carried  off;  and  to  cap  the  cHmax 
of  his  troubles,  his  creditors,  having  heard  tjje  ma- 
licious report  of  his  enemies,  that  he  and  his  whole 
company  were  drowned,  had  seized  upon  the  little 
property  which  he  had  left,  and  sold  it  greatly  under 
its  true  value.  Such  a  combination  of  disasters  was 
enough  to  have  crushed  any  but  the  most  resolute 
heart.  In  the  depth  of  his  trials  it  was  fortunate 
for  La  Salle  that  lie  found  an  unwavering  friend  in 
the  Count  de  Frontenac,  who  still  extended  to  him 
his  encouragement  and  influence. 

Though  bis  intention  of  exploring  the  Mississippi 
was  not  abandoned,  the  plan  of  its  execution  was 
now  altered.  He  relinquished  the  idea  of  using 
brigantines,  or  boats  rigged  with  sails,  and  concluded 
to  use  canoes. 

To  return  now  to  the  Fort  of  the  Broken  Heart : 
After  La  Salle  left,  the  Chevalier  de  Tonty,  at  the 
orders  of  La  Salle,  commenced  the  erection  of  a 
fort  in  another  place.  Wiiilst  engaged  in  this,  he 
received  word  that  a  mutiny  had  broken  out  at  Fort 
CreveccDur.  He  inmiediately  returned,  and  found 
that  half  of  those  whom  he  left  there  bad  deserted. 
Not  satisfied  with  this,  they  had  stolen  as  much  mer- 
chandise as  they  could  carry  away.  As  the  provis- 
ions of  the    company  were   now  greatly  i  educed, 


STARTLING    RUMOR. 


283 


hi  in   of 

is  jfoocii 
I  clinitix 
the  ma- 
is  whole 
he  little 
\y  under 
jters  was 
resolute 
\>rtunate 
Viend  in 
I  to  him 

ississippi 
ition  was 
of  using 
oncluded 

n  Heart : 
;y,  at  the 
tion  of  a 
n  this,  he 
It  at  Fort 
nd  found 
deserted, 
luch  mer- 
le provis- 
I  educed] 


Tonty  concluded  to  make  it  his  home  in  the  village 
of  the  Illinois,  just  ahove  them,  and  take  tlie  men 
with  him.  His  conduct  among  these  IntUans  was  so 
discreet  that  he  was  successful  in  securing  their  con- 
fidence. He  taught  them  how  to  construct  a  fort, 
and  the  mode  of  using  fire-arnjs.  The  mi^^sionaries 
of  the  party.  Fathers  Gabriel  de  la  Ribourde  and 
Zenobe  Mcmbre,  employed  themselves  in  their  ap- 
propriate work  of  imparting  religious  instruction  to 
the  natives.  They  met,  however,  with  but  little 
success. 

In  the  month  of  September,  the  whole  Illinois 
camp  was  thrown  into  consternation  by  the  report 
that  a  large  army  of  the  Iroquois  and  the  Miamis 
were  coming  upon  them,  and  that  La  Salle  was  with 
them.  This  latter  rumor  of  La  Salle's  confederacy 
with  the  enemy  awakened  the  suspicion  among  the 
Illinois  that  all  the  French  whom  they  had  so  hospi- 
tably entertained  during  the  summer  were  also  in 
league  with  them  ;  and,  therefore,  some  were  in 
favor  of  their  immediate  execution.  Tonty  had  to 
exhibit  great  skill  and  shrewdness  to  convince  them 
of  the  contrary.  The  report  of  La  Salle's  presence 
was  false.  It  arose  from  the  fact  that  one  of  the 
Iroquois  chiefs  had  arrayed  himself  in  a  European 
dres3,  and  at  a  distance  resemlrled  La  Salle.  The 
enemy  made  their  aj)pearance,  but,  through  the  in- 
ter )osr"tion  of  the  French,  a  collision  was  avoided 


■•"■"•I 


284 


SUDDEN    RETREAT. 


The  Illinois,  however,  secretly  retreated,  carrying 
all  their  movables  with  them,  leaving  the  French  to 
take  care  of  themselves.  Tonty  now  saw  that  he 
would  be  wholly  in  the  power  of  the  Iroquois,  who 
would  be  likely  to  regard  him  and  his  conijjanions 
as  helj)less  enemies,  whom  they  would  not  hesitate 
to  plunder,  and  perhaps  murder.  Acting,  therefore, 
upon  the  principle  that  discretion  is  the  better  part 
of  valor,  he  and  his  companions  secretly  took  their 
jeparture  in  an  old  canoe,  and  paddled  up  the  river 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  trusting  to  a  kind  Providence 
to  provide  them  with  food,  of  which  they  were 
entirely  destitute.  The  next  day  their  canoe  struck 
a  rock,  and  was  injured.  They  put  into  the  shore 
for  repairs.  Whilst  these  were  in  progress.  Father 
Gabriel  de  la  Ribourde  was  tempted,  by  t'je  beauty 
of  the  scenery,  to  indulge  in  a  ramble  along  the  river- 
side, taking  with  him  his  breviary  and  prayer  book. 
He  was  absent  so  long  that  his  companions  were 
alarmed.  When  the  repairs  were  completed,  they 
ail  started  in  search  of  him.  They  shouted  and 
fired  their  guns  to  attract  his  attention,  but  to  no 
purpose.  The  darkness  of  night  set  in,  and  he  did 
not  return.  As  they  had  discovered  recent  foot- 
prints, and  fearing  they  might  be  those  of  the  Iro- 
quois, they  concl  ided  to  spend  the  night  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  The  next  day  they  returned  and 
continued  their  search  for  their  lost  religious  teacher 


FATHER    RIBOURDE    KILLED. 


28.1 


In  this  manner  they  spent  nearly  the  whole  day,  hut 
without  success.  They  then  slowly  prosecuted  their 
journey,  carefully  looking  out  as  they  advanced, 
with  the  hope  that  he  might  have  gone  up  tlie  river 
shore,  and  be  waiting  for  them  upon  some  project- 
ing or  shady  bank  above.  In  this  they  were  disap- 
pointed. He  was  never  seen  again.  They  pur- 
sued their  course  with  hea'-ts  filled  with  sorrow.  It 
was  afterwards  ascertained  that  he  was  murdeied 
with  clubs  by  three  Kickapoo  Indians,  beh)nging  to 
a  war  party  who  had  come  from  the  Wisconsin 
Territory  to  fight  the  Iroquois.  They  scalped  him, 
and  carried  off  his  breviary  and  prayer  book.  These 
afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  a  .Tesuit  mis- 
sionary. 

The  party  were  soon  obliged  to  abandon  their 
canoe  and  betake  themselves  to  land.  After  travel- 
ling two  hundred  miles  through  forests  and  marshes, 
crossing  a  number  of  rivers,  and  living  the  whole 
time  upon  roots,  nuts,  or  other  articles  which  they 
could  obtain,  they  reached  a  village  of  the  Potta- 
watimies.  Their  garments  were  in  rags,  their  feet 
torn,  their  strength  exhausted,  and  their  appetite 
voracious.  Right  glad  were  they  to  find  a  j)lace 
where  they  could  rest  themselves,  find  enough  to  eat, 
and  sleep  under  shelter  and  in  safety. 

One  of  their  number^  the  Sieur  de  Boisrondet,  at 
one   time   got   lost   from  them,  and  was  gone   ten 


28G 


ADVENTURES  OF  BOISRONDET. 


(lays.  lie  carried  a  musket,  but  was  destitute  of 
balls  and  flint.  But  Necessity,  that  prolific  niotber 
of  inj^enious  expedients,  came  to  bis  relief,  aiMl 
taugbt  bini  to  melt  bis  pewter  disb  into  balls  and  to 
fire  bis  gun  witb  a  coal.  He  managed  in  tliis  man- 
ner to  sboot  some  wild  turkeys,  wbicli  furnisbed  bim 
witb  acceptable  food.  Tbe  Pottawatimies,  baving 
traded  witb  tbe  Canadians,  regarded  tbeir  Frencb 
visitors  as  friends,  and  treated  tbem  witb  great 
kindness.  Tbeir  bead  cbief  was  accustomed,  witb 
some  flattery  and  no  little  egotism,  to  say  tbat  "  be 
knew  of  but  tbree  great  captains  in  tbe  world  — 
Frontenac,  La  Salle,  and  bimself."  In  tbe  spring 
tbis  party  reached  Mackinac.  Here  tbey  waited 
until  June,  1(381,  for  La  Salle,  wben  tbey  bad  tbe 
pleasure  of  seeing  bim  enter  tbe  barbor.  He  bad 
been  down  tbe  Illinois,  visited  tbe  Fort  of  tbe  Broken 
Heart,  had  found  it  forsaken,  and  after  examining 
the  ruins  of  the  Illinois  village,  which  had  been 
burnt  by  tbe  Iroquois,  bad  returned  again  to  Mack- 
inac. He  bad  also  been  t(»  tbe  fort  which  be  bad 
erected  at  tbe  mouth  of  tbe  Miami  River,  and  found 
it  plundered  and  destroyed.  Tbis  had  been  the  work 
of  tbe  deserters.  He  was  now  on  bis  way  to  Can- 
ada to  get  new  recruits  with  whom  to  renew  his 
€!xploration  of  the  Mississippi.  After  spending  a 
short  time  with  them,  he  hastened  to  Canada  and 
completed  bis  arrangements. 


287 


CIIAPTCll    XX  1 11. 

'^'"r  ?"■',<•"  ^^^""""  ■'""'  ^"''"'''■""  ^'•■''''  «»'«>"•- Kmplovment. 
of  the  W  o.non.  _  Ice.  -  A  Man  lost.  _  Unnecessary  Alarm.  - 
Means  of  DefnTc.  -  Friendly  Rela.ions.  _  La  .SaliJ  takes  Pos- 
session. -  I„,!i.-,„  Kin-  -Native  Uoyally.- Permanent  Dwell- 
nigs. —  A  Canoe  cl.ase.i.  —  N.nneroi.s  Natives.  —  Respect  for 
the  Calumet.  -  Natchez.  _  Escort.  -  Abandoned  Villa-e  - 
Horrul  Spectacle.  -  Three  Channels.  -  A  Party  explores 
each.  —  Tiio  Gulf  of  Mexico  rcaclie<f.  —  I.a  Salle,  takes  Pos- 
session  of  Louisiana.  —  Evidence  of  Possession.  — He  re- 
turns.  —  Ascent    of    the    River    difficult. 

As  we  before  intimated,  La  Salle  abandoned 
the  intention  of  exploring  the  Mississippi  with  boats 
rij^ged  with  sails,  and  concluded  to  use  canoes. 
These  were  cheaper,  more  easily  managed,  afid 
were  not  dependent  upon  tlie  wind. 

His  party  this  time  numbered  fifty-four,  of  whom 
twenty-three  were  French,  eighteen  were  Indians 
called  Abenakies  and  Loups,  ten  were  women,  and 
three  were  children.  It  will  appear  to  the  reader 
probably  as  very  singular  that,  in  an  expedition  of 
discovery  like  this,  in  open  boats,  on  dangerous 
>vaters,  in  the  winter  season,  and  through  savage 
tribes,  women  should  be  found.  These  were  IndiL 
wonieiA.  The  practice  was  universtil  among  the  ab- 
origines   of  the  country  for  the  women   to  perform 


1 

ijk  ■ 

^» 

e 

•to 

*i 

^ 

C 

1 

e-' 

J 

& 

288 


ANOTffKR    EXPEDITION. 


the  heaviest  share  of  the  hihor.  Tlicy  not  only  did 
tlie  work  of  tlie  \vi«;\vain,  hut  ohtaincd  fuel,  tilh.'d 
the  ground,  and  on  the  journey::  carried  tlie  hardens. 
The  \varri(n\s  regarded  it  enough  for  them  to  do  the 
fighting  and  tlie  hunting.  The  women  did  tiie 
rest.  They  were  tlie  slaves  of  the  men.  This  will 
account  for  their  presence  in  this  exjKHhtion. 
Whether  it  was  a  privilege  or  a  right,  the  Indians 
insisted  that  the  women  should  accompany  them, 
and  perform,  as  far  as  w-.xs  necessary,  their  accus- 
tomed service.  .  The  chiklren  were  probahly  infants, 
which  some  of  the  s(juaws  carried,  suspended  to 
their  backs.  The  party  were  all  assembled  at  the 
Ciiicago  River,  near  the  south-western  shore  of 
Lake  Michigan,  early  in  .Tanuary,  1G82.  As  the 
marslies  and  small  rivers  were  frozen  over,  rough 
sleds  were  made,  on  which  were  placed  the  canoes, 
merchandise,  and  provisions,  which  were  drawn  in 
this  manner  up  the  Chicago,  across  the  portage  to 
the  Illinois,  and  down  the  latter  river  to  the  lake  of 
the  same  name,  called  by  the  Indians  Pimiteony. 
As  the  river  licr^  was  found  to  be  open,  the  canoes 
were  launched,  and  the  party  fairly  commenced 
their  voyage.  Passing  by  the  Illinois  village,  which 
they  found  deserted,  and  Fort  Crevecceur,  which  was 
re-garrisoned,  on  the  6th  of  February  they  came 
out  upon  the  broad  bosom  of  the  Mississippi. 
Passing  by  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri  on  tlie  west, 


UNNKCESSAIIY    ALARM. 


2S9 


did 

Hod 

ens. 
t\»e 
the 
will 

ition. 

dians 

tlicm, 

iccus- 

\i\ints, 

lea  to 

at  the 

)re    of 

Vs    the 

,  rough 

canoes, 
awn  in 
tage  to 
lake  of 
iiitcony. 
canoes 
imenced 
e,  which 
lich  was 
3y  came 
ssissippi* 
lie  west, 


and    of  the    Oliio    on    tlie   east,  tliey  arrived    at  the 
Cliickasaw  IJh^i^^^  on  tlie  '^ikU  of  thi;  same  nuMith. 

A  company  of  th(;  iiimters  liuuk'd,  and  went  in 
pur.suit  of  game.  Wlien  tliey  returned,  one  of  tlieir 
numher  was  missing.  His  name  was  Pierre  Priid- 
honnne.  Tlie  soUeitnde  of  tlie  whole  conipany  was 
awakened  in  his  helialf.  Every  etVort  was  employed 
to  discover  his  fate.  As  a  prudential  arrangement 
La  Salle  threw  up  an  entrenchment  and  dignified  it 
with  the  name  of  Fort  l*rndlionmie,  hy  which  it  wjis 
known  for  a  long  time.  The  -  •nviction  gradually 
settled  in  the  minds  of  the  company  that  the  lost 
one  was  either  slain  or  .ptured  h\  the  Indians. 
But  after  waiting  nine  days,  tlicii-  sadness  gave  place 
to  joy  at  heholdmg  the  ahsciit  oue  come  into  camp. 
He  had  lost  his  companions,  and  had  spent  this 
whole  time  in  wanderinji;  among  the  forests  to  lind 
his  way  to  the  canoes. 

The  party  now  resumed  their  voyage,  and,  after 
floating  about  a  hundred  miles,  they  were  suddenly 
startled  by  hearing  the  mingled  sounds  of  drums 
and  of  human  voices  on  the  western  side  of  the 
river.  The  noise  was  a  call  of  alarm.  To  be  |)rc- 
pared  for  a  collision,  if  one  must  come,  La  Salle 
crossed  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  landed,  cut 
down  some  trees,  and  constructed  a  rude  place  of 
defence.  All  this  proved  to  be  unnecessary.  When 
the  Indians,  who  were  of  the  Arkansas  tribe,  made 
•25 


290 


LA    SALLE    TAKES    POSSESSION. 


r,: 


llieir  appetirance,  the  calumet  which  was  presented 
to  tliein  was  accepted.  Friendly  relations  were  at 
once  established.  They  cordially  invited  the  French 
to  visit  them,  who  accepted  their  invitation  and  went 
over  to  their  village.  Thev  there  found  huts  ijro- 
vided  for  their  accommodation,  fuel  for  their  fires, 
and  a  plentiful  supply  of  provisions.  Several  days 
were  here  spent  in  feasting  and  merriment. 

La  Salle  here  took  formal  possession  of  the 
country  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France.  With 
as  much  of  external  pomp  and  religious  ceremony 
as  were  at  his  command,  he  erected  in  a  conspicuous 
place  the  symbolic  crocs,  and,  adorning  it  with  the 
arms  of  France,  he  with  religious  services,  declared 
the  country  to  be  one  of  the  possessions  of  his 
King.  The  savages  were  highly  pleased  at  the  dis- 
play, and  probably  regarded  it  as  one  of  the  amuse- 
ments of  their  pale-faced  visitors.  There  is  some- 
thing painfully  aftecting  in  beholding  these  ignorant, 
but  free  sons  of  the  forest  gazing  with  joy  at  those 
ceremonies  by  which  their  own  country  is  declared 
to  belong  to  another. 

After  spending  two  weeks  with  these  Indians,  who 
were  found  to  possess  a  friendly  and  cheerful  spirit, 
the  voyagers  bade  them  adieu,  and  passed  on  to  the 
south.  By  the  '20th  of  March  they  reached  another 
tribe,  called  the  Taensas.  Their  villages  were  ro- 
mantically  situated   on    the    borders    of    a    lako> 


INDIAV    ROYALTY. 


291 


rented 
ere  at 
^'rcnch 
d  went 

ts  pio- 
r  fires, 
al  tUiys 

of   the 
With 
jremony 
spicuoiis 
with  the 
declared 
is  of  his 
the  dis- 
e  amusc- 
is  somc- 
isrnorant, 
lit  those 
declared 

Uaiis,  who 
ful  spirit, 
on  to  the 
ud  another 
s  were  ro- 
f    a    lake* 


Fnthcr  Zenobc  and  the  iron-liaiukd  Tonty  were  ap- 
pointed by  Lh  Salle  liis  nnihassadors  to  re|)re?('nt 
liiin  at  the  court  of  the  Kini>-.  Takinjij  with  thcin 
presents,  they  visited  his  villaj^e  and  sought  an  intro- 
duction. They  found  iiim  iivinj'*  in  j^reater  dignity 
limn  chiefs  in  general  aspired  to.  Like  monarchs 
of  civilized  nations,  he  was  surrounded  witii  cour- 
tiers and  servants,  who  appeared  to  treat  him  witli 
the  greatest  reverence.  lie  received  the  ambassa- 
dors with  great  courtesy,  and,  after  extending  to 
them  special  civilities,  he  informed  them  tiiat  he 
should  visit  their  chief.  A  time  was  fixed  for  the 
visit ;  but  two  hours  previously  a  company  of  In- 
dians came  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  majesty,  and 
t«)  erect  an  awning  to  protect  him  from  the  sun. 
Finally  the  King  himself  came  in  great  state.  He 
was  not  arrayed  in  a  robe  of  furs  or  dried  skins, 
which  the  chiefs  usually  wore  on  occasions  of  cere- 
mony, but  in  a  white  garment,  made  from  the  bark 
of  trees.  Before  him  walked  three  individuals,  two 
of  whom  bore  fans  made  of  long  white  plumes,  and 
the  third  carried  two  highly-polished  plates  of  cop- 
per. With  this  display  of  barbaric  splendor  he 
visited  the  French  camp,  where  iie  was  received  in 
a  manner  befitting  his  rank.  During  the  interview, 
though  his  deportment  was  marked  by  the  usual 
Indian  gravity,  he  gave  evidence  of  confidence  and 
of  friendship. 


CIIASINfi    A    CANOE. 


These  Iiuliaris  were  more  civilized  than  the  more 
northern  trihes.  Their  dwelHngs  were  more  perma- 
nently and  suhstantially  built,  and  were  furnished  in 
a  more  convenient  and  comfortable  manner.  Their 
dead  were  interred  in  temples,  highly  embellished. 

After  leaving  the  Taensas,  the  party  proceeded 
some  forty  miles,  when  a  solitary  canoe  was  discov- 
ered upon  the  river.  The  brave  De  Tonty  immedi- 
ately gave  chase  ;  but  he  did  not  pursue  it  far  before 
a  crowd  of  savages  were  seen  upon  the  shore.  This 
was  sufficient  to  cause  him  to  desist.  La  Salle  or- 
dered all  his  men  to  make  for  the  opposite  shore. 
It  was  uncertain  what  the  result  would  be.  The 
Indians  might  construe  the  chasing  of  the  canoe  into 
a  declaration  of  war ;  and  if  so,  they  would  proba- 
bly make  an  attack  upon  the  French.  La  Salle 
adopted  prudential  measures.  When,  however,  the 
two  parties  met,  the  revered  calumet  prevented  all 
difficulties,  and  brought  them  into  friendly  relations. 
They  were  fishermen,  and  belonged  to  the  Natchez 
tribe.  By  their  invitation,  some  of  the  French  vis- 
ited their  encampment,  where  they  received  nought 
but  hos|)itality  and  kindness.  Here  La  Salle  and 
his  ecclesiastics  again  went  through  with  the  cere- 
mony of  taking  possession  of  the  country  in  the 
name  of  the  King  of  France. 

When  they  returned  to  their  camp,  they  were  ac- 
companied by  a   number   of  distinguished  persons, 


THE    OUTLET    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 


293 


the  more 

e  j)ernia- 

nished  in 
Their 

Ih.shcd. 

)rc)ceeded 
IS  discov- 
immedi- 
far  before 
re.     This 

Salle  or- 
ite  shore, 
be.     The 

aiioe  into 
lid  proba- 

La  Salle 
rvever,  the 
vented  all 

relations. 
I  Natchez 
rench  vis- 
id  nought 
5alle  and 
the  cere- 
ry   in  the 

were  ac- 
persons, 


among  whom  was  the  chief  of  Koroa,  a  town  six 
miles  below,  who  invited  them  to  visit  his  place, 
which  they  did. 

Alter  floating  a  hnndred  miles  farther  down  the 
crooked  current  of  the  river,  they  discovered  some 
Indians  fishing,  who  hastily  fled  upon  seeing  the 
strangers.  Four  of  La  Salle's  party  were  sent  out 
as  scouts.  They  were  received  with  a  shower  of 
arrows  and  the  loud  shouts  of  war.  The  assailants 
proved  to  be  Quinipisas.  Without  returning  their 
fire,  La  Salle  sailed  on,  and  soon  came  to  a  village 
which  presented  a  horrid  spectacle.  The  houses 
were  all  forsaken  ;  but  when  they  were  entered  they 
were  found  to  have  been  scenes  of  war  and  blood. 
Many  dead  bodies,  scattered  about  in  the  different 
tenements,  showed  tliat  a  terrific  conflict  had  taken 
place. 

Three  days  after,  being  the  (Jth  of  Ajiril,  La  Salle 
discovered  a  pleasing  sight  —  it  was  the  division  of 
the  river  into  three  branches.  lie  knew  from  this 
circumstance  that  he  was  approaching  its  mouth, 
that  his  voyage  was  nearly  at  an  end,  and  tliat  he 
was  on  the  verge  of  one  of  the  greatest  discoveries 
of  his  age.  He  formed  his  party  into  three  divis- 
ions, and  ordered  one  to  each  branch.  In  this  man- 
ner they  floated  on,  until  the  great  question  was 
solved  by  the  discovery  that  the  waters  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi were  discharged  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico- 
25* 


•294 


IMPRESSIVK    SERVICE. 


!   I 


h'\ 


The  three  parties  met,  and  on  the  next  day  the  im- 
posing ceremony  of  taking  possession  was  again 
performed.  In  an  elevated  place,  above  the  reach 
of  tide-water  and  of  the  rise  of  the  river,  a  column 
and  a  cross  were  erected,  on  the  former  of  which 
were  suspended  the  arms  of  France,  with  the  in- 
scripiion,  "  Louis  the  Great,  King  of  France 
AND  Navarre,  reigns  ;  the  9th  of  April,  1G82." 
A  Te  Deum  was  solemnly  chanted,  after  which,  in 
honor  of  the  important  occasion,  they  fired  their 
muskets,  and  mingled  with  the  reports  loud  shouts 
of  "  Long  live  the  King."  Upon  the  erection  of  the 
column,  the  commander  of  the  expedition  made  an 
official  address,  in  which  he  claimed  the  whole  of 
Louisiana,  with  all  its  people,  seas,  harbors,  and  all 
the  rivers  emptying  into  the  Mississippi,  (which  he 
called  the  St.  Louis,)  for  the  French  King. 

To  furnish  evidence  which  niight  be  of  future  ser- 
vice in  proof  of  his  having  taken  actual  possession 
in  the  name  of  his  majesty  then  on  the  throne  of 
France,  La  Salle  obtained  a  leaden  platf,  on  which 
he  wrote,  in  Latin,  an  inscription,  stating  that  the 
first  navigators  of  the  Mississippi,  from  the  Illinois 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  were  La  Salle,  Tonty,  Ze- 
nobia,  and  twenty  Frenchmen.  This  was  buried  at 
the  foot  of  a  tree.  He  also  had  an  account  drawn 
up  in  documentary  form,  properly  certified  by  a 
notary,  to  which  were  affixed  the  names  of  thirteen 


i,i 


LA    SALLE's    death. 


295 


of  the  principal  persons  who  had  accompanied 
him. 

The  great  ohject  of  the  expedition  heing  now  ac- 
comphshed,  through  the  adventurous,  enterprising, 
and  courageous  spirit  of  La  Salle,  he  commenced 
his  return.  This  was  found  far  more  difficult  than 
the  descent  of  the  river,  in  consequence  of  the 
strong  current  against  which  the  canoes  had  to  con- 
tend He  was  further  delayed  by  sickness.  He  did 
not  reach  the  Miami  River  till  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember. 

After  this  the  Sieur  La  Salle  adopted  measures  to 
form  a  colony  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  in 
Louisiana.  But,  in  attempting  to  reach  the  river  by 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  he  passed  its  mouth  and  lost 
his  way.  Ditficulties  sprang  up  between  him  and 
Beaujeu,  the  commander  of  the  squadron,  who  re- 
fused to  return  and  seek  for  the  river.  The  conse- 
quence was.  La  Salle  and  his  company  landed  on 
the  western  shore  of  the  gulf.  His  boats  were 
wrecked  ;  his  property  was  lost ;  his  plan  failed ; 
and  he  was  finally  assassinated  by  some  of  his  own 
mea. 


296 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 


1; 


liisll 


Father  Hennepin.  —  A  Fl.ot  of  Canoes.  —  Hennepin  interrupts 
it.  —  Is  capturcil.  —  Crying"  Indians.  —  Prisoners  doomed  to 
die.  —  Hennepin's  Course.  —  Captivity  instead  of  Death.  — 
Strength  of  the  Natives.  —  Dance  of  the  Reed.  —  Chief  Aqui« 
paguetin.  —  Makes  a  Feast.  —  Singular  Conduct.  —  Indian  Cun- 
ning.—  Lake  of  Tears.  —  Captives  in  Suspense. —  Mode  of 
kindling  a  Fire.  —  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  —  Separation  of  the 
Captives.  —  Pare  quickened  by  Fire.  —  The  Chalice  a  supposed 
Spirit.  —  A  comic  Musician.  —  Hennepin  adopted. —  His  Treat- 
ment. —  Ridiculous  Scene.  —  Indian  Sweat.  —  The  Compass.  — 
The  Pot  and  Lion.  —  Mode  of  learning  the  Language.  —  Putting 
Black  to  White.  —  Infant  Baptism.  —  Infant  dies.  —  Hennepin's 
consoling  Reflections. 


;  ^^.A- 


li,^  Vn 


i5s  i:,- 


im 


i.mp 


^-'--Wl 


Just  before  La  Salle  departed  from  Fort  Creve- 
ccBur,  on  his  return  to  Canada  to  obtain  rio^ging"  and 
stores  for  his  new  brigantine  which  he  was  building 
on  the  Illinois  River,  he  sent  Father  Hennepin  on  a 
voyage  of  discovery  to  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi. 
He  was  a  man  of  courage,  and,  in  consequence  of 
his  travels  and  labors  among  the  aborigines,  he  had 
much  experience  of  Indian  life  and  customs.  Being 
also  fond  of  the  excitement  of  penetrating  into  new 
countries  and  among  uncivilized  tribes,  he  was  a 
suitable  person  to  go  upon  such  an  expedition. 

But  before  proceeding  to  give  an  account  of 
Father  Hennepin,  it  is  proper  to  say  that,  in  his  ow» 


» i 


1  . 


FATHER    HENNEPIN. 


2t): 


narrative  of  Iiis  adventures,  lie  is  constantly  ainiiii<; 
at  eflect.  lie  abounds  with  exaggerations,  and  some 
of  liis  statements  are  manifestly  false.  Besides,  he 
is  extremely  egotistical,  keeping  himself  constantly 
and  prominently  before  the  reader.  His  statements, 
therefore,  should  be  received  with  all  due  allowance 
for  these  peculiarities.  In  drawing  up  the  following 
sketch  from  his  account,  much  was  rejected,  because 
It  made  too  great  demands  upon  our  credulity. 

Taking  with  him  two  Frenchmen,  Picard  de  Gay 
and  Michael  Ako,  Hennepin  departed  from  the  Fort 
of  the  Broken  Heart,  February  29,  1G80.  Nothing 
of  importance  happened  till  the  12th  of  April,  when, 
as  he  was  repairing  his  canoe,  and  his  men  cooking 
bustards  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  probably  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Wisconsin  River,  they  saw  a 
fleet  of  fifty  bark  canoes,  manned  with  a  hundred 
and  twenty  naked  Indians,  coming  down  the  river 
with  great  speed,  in  order  to  surprise  the  Miamis 
and  Illinois  below.  Hennepin  upset  his  dirmer  pot, 
threw  away  the  broth,  and,  carrying  the  half-cooked 
bustard  with  him,  he  pushed  out  into  the  river,  hailed 
the  flving  fleet,  and  cried  out  three  times  in  the  Iro- 
quoisand  Algonquin  dialects,  "Comrades,  we  are  men 
of  wooden  canoes,"  as  that  is  the  appellation  of  those 
who  sail  in  ships.  This  attempt  at  a  friendly  inter- 
view was  unsuccessful.  Some  fired  arrows  at  them, 
others  leaped  out  of  their  canoes,  some  on  the  sand« 


298 


FATHKR    HENNEPIN    CAPTURED. 


Others  in  the  water,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  three 
voyagers  were  surrounded  hy  the  whole  band  of  sav- 
ai>es,  wlio  filled  the  air  with  their  loud  shrieks  and 
oulcries.  Resistance  was  useless.  They  showed 
their  ealuuiet,  and  distributed  some  Martiriico  tobac- 
co, better  than  that  which  the  Indians  could  obtain  ; 
l)ut  all  was  unavailin*?.  They  were  taken  prisoners. 
The  French  informed  their  captors  that  the  Miamis 
had  fled  to  the  Illinois.  When  they  thus  saw  that 
their  plot  to  surprise  their  enemies  was  discovered, 
they  laid  their  hands  on  the  head  of  Hennepin,  and, 
as  he  says,  "  they  wept  bitterly,  accompanying  their 
tears  with  such  mournful  accents  as  can  hardly  be 
expressed  ;  till,  with  a  sorry  handkerchief  of  Ar- 
menian cloth  which  I  had  left,  I  made  a  shift  to 
dry  up  their  tears."  The  prisoners  were  now  in- 
formed that  they  were  doomed  to  death.  Upon  the 
reception  of  this  intelligence,  Hennepin  went  to  the 
chiefs,  presented  them  with  six  hatchets,  fifteen 
knives,  and  some  tobacco;  Jilter  which  he  bent  down 
his  head  and  pointed  to  a  hatchet,  signifying  to 
them  in  that  manner  tluit  he  threw  himself  upon 
their  mercy.  This  ])roduced  the  desired  effect. 
The  Indians,  instead  of  executing  the  prisoners, 
gave  them  beaver  flesh  to  eat,  and  informed  them 
that,  instead  of  slaying,  they  intended  to  carry  them 
into  captivity.  To  this  Hennepin  had  but  little  ob- 
jection, as  he  thought  it  would  be  favorable   to   hia 


DANCE    OF    THK    REKD. 


299 


mnkin<^  discoveries  amonj*;  tliem.  As  the  canoe  of 
Hennepin  was  more  heavily  hidcned  than  theirs,  it 
was  difficult  for  him  and  his  two  men  to  keep  np 
with  them.  They  therefore  pnt  four  or  live  of  theii 
own  Indians  in,  to  assist  in  rowing  it.  In  this  man- 
ner Hennepin  kept  in  their  company  on  the  river 
for  nineteen  days  together.  Although  the  Indians 
were  very  powerful  at  tlieir  oars,  and  wouhl  row 
from  morning  to  night,  scarcely  allowing  themselves 
time  to  take  their  meals,  yet,  when  evening  came, 
instead  of  going  to  sleep,  the  youngest  of  the  war- 
riors would  go  to  four  or  five  of  their  chiefs,  and 
eniraire  in  the  dance  of  the  reed  till  midnight.  The 
chief  before  whom  they  danced  would  then  send, 
with  some  ceremony,  a  warrior  of  his  own  family 
to  make  them  smoke  by  turns  in  his  own  reed  of 
war,  which  is  distinguished  from  a  calumet  by  the 
character  of  its  feathers.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the 
young  warriors  went  through  this  extra  fatigue  of 
the  dance  for  the  sake  of  the  pleasures  of  the  pipe 
which  they  knew  would  be  their  reward. 

On  one  of  the  nineteen  days  that  he  was  with 
them  upon  the  river  they  made  a  halt,  at  noon,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi.  A  chief  named 
Aquipaguetin  had  killed  a  large  fat  bear  aiul  invited 
the  other  chiefs  to  a  feast ;  after  which  the  Indians, 
having  their  faces  fancifully  marked,  the  figure  of 
some  animal  painted  on  their  bodies,  their  heads  ornu 


300 


INDIAN    CRAFTINESS. 


mcnted  with  red  Jiud  wliite  feathers,  bcj^an  a  dance. 
They  placed  their  hands  upon  their  hij)s,  stain|)ed 
with  great  violence  upon  the  j^round,  and  jumped 
awkwardly  about  in  uncouth  figtires.  During  the 
dance,  a  son  of  one  of  the  masters  of  ceremonies, 
who  appeared  to  weep  profusely,  made  them  all 
smoke  the  pipe  of  war.  His  father,  who  was 
e(jually  affected,  would  sometimes  address  the  war- 
riors, and  sometimes  Hennepin,  laying  his  hands 
upon  his  head  and  upon  those  of  his  men,  and  then, 
lifting  his  eyes  towards  heaven,  would  pronounce  the 
word  Louis,  which  in  their  language  signified  sun, 
appealing  to  him  for  justice,  and  striving  to  stir  up 
his  followers  to  avenge  his  son's  death.  All  this 
was  any  thing  but  agreeable  to  the  captives.  They 
afterwards  learnt  that  the  chief  was  seeking  their 
death,  but,  being  opposed  by  some  of  his  own  peo- 
ple, he  abandoned  the  intention.  After  this  he  re- 
sorted to  a  singular  artifice  to  obtain  from  the 
captives  their  merchandise. 

He  had  with  him  the  bones  of  one  of  his  friends 
wrapped  up  carefully  in  the  skin  of  some  animal, 
ornamented  with  red  and  black  embroidery  of  por- 
cupine quills.  The  crafty  chief  would,  from  time 
to  time,  call  his  followers  together  to  smoke,  and  on 
these  occasions  he  would  send  for  the  French  ca|> 
tives,  one  after  another,  and  make  them  cover  the 
bones  of  the  deceased  with  some  of  their  Europeaa 


lance, 
nnped 
itnpcd 
lij  tlio 
lonies, 
m   all 

0  was 
e  vvar- 

Imnds 

1  then, 
ice  tlie 
d  sun, 
5tir  up 
ill  tins 

They 
T  their 
^n  peo- 
he  re- 
nn   tlie 


friends 
animal, 
of  por- 
m  time 
and  on 
ch  ca|> 
ver  the 
iropeaa 


^^mrm 


it! 


^      r 


i    ;.t,; 


■iiW', 


SCI 


GRKAT    WKKPING. 


301 


1 » 


^; 


/- 


articlns,  in  order  to  nrssiinjj^o  liis  «;riof  for  tlic  slain. 
Tlie  captives,  as  hiddci:,  would  throw  tobacco, 
hatchets,  knives,  heads,  and  hraceh'ts  npon  the 
bones  ;  the  wily  chief  givin<^  them,  at  the  same 
time,  to  understand  that  it  was  not  for  himself,  hut 
for  tlie  dead  and  for  the  warriors  around  liim,  that 
he  demanded  these  thinj^s.  As  for  liimself,  he  pre- 
tended that  he  would  receive  nothinjr  from  them  hut 
what  they  freely  presented.  Hennepin  called  this 
place  the  Lake  of  Tears,  in  conseciuence  of  the 
tears  which  the  cunning  Aquipaguetin  wept  there 
every  night.  After  he  had  wearied  himself  with 
crying,  he  obliged  one  of  his  s(ms  to  come  and 
supply  lus  place.  The  object  of  this,  as  Hennepin 
thought,  was  to  excite  the  Indians  to  murder  him, 
and  then  to  pursue  their  enemies  and  revenge  the 
death  of  one  of  his  sons  whom  they  had  slain. 
Aquipaguetin  and  his  sons  were  not  the  only  ones 
who  manifested  such  deep  feeling.  Many  nights  in 
succession  the  elders  of  the  Indians  came  and  wept 
over  them.  They  would  then  rub  the  arms  and 
bodies  of  their  captives,  and  afterwards  lay  their 
hands  upon  their  heads,  as  if  praying  for  them,  or 
else  bewailing  their  doom.  The  French  knew  not 
how  to  interpret  this  conduct.  It  was  to  'hem  a 
mystery.  Their  ai)prehensions  were  excited,  so 
tnat  they  obtained  but  little  rest  by  day  or  night. 
One  day  a  chief  came  to  Hennepin  and  his  two 
26 


3112 


NOVEL    MODE    OF    KINDLFNG    FIRE. 


I 


men,  and,  after  cuttin<(  down  some  grass,  he  placed 
it  in  three  piles,  and  invited  them  to  sit  down  upon 
them  as  enshions.  Me  then  tln*nst  a  stick  of  hard 
wood  into  a  juece  of  cedar  fnll  of  small  holes,  and, 
by  rubbing  it  raj)idly  between  the  palms  of  his 
hands,  soon  kindled  a  fire  from  the  friction.     They 


Indian  Mode  of  kindlirif;  a  Fire. 

h)oked  on  in  ignorance  of  his  object,  confident, 
however,  that  in  a  short  time  it  would  develop  itself. 
They  were  not  mistaken.  Having  succeeded  in 
producing  fire,  he  took  his  cahimet,  or  pipe  of  peace, 
filled  it  with  tobacco,  and,  after  weeping  over  them 
Bonie  time,  gave  the  pipe  to  Hennepin  and  made 
him  smoke,  and  then  informed   him  that   in  sixteen 


'  5 


1  I ! 


iii^iJ-P  ' 


PA1^FL'L    TRAVELLING. 


303 


placed 
n  upon 
if  hard 
Bs,  and, 

of  his 
They 


Confident, 

lop  itself. 

leeded   in 

|of  peace, 

?er  tliein 

id   made 

sixteen 


days  they  would  he  at  home.  At  the  end  of  niiie- 
t«ji-ii  days  they  had  arrived  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  Falls  on  the  Mississippi,  to  which  Ileiiiiepin 
jwave  the  name  of  St.  Anthony,  in  honor  of  the  saint 
of  that  name.  Tiiey  here  paused.  After  some  con- 
sultation, the  Indians  separated  the  three  French- 
men.  This  was  a  new  trial.  Whilst  toffcthor,  tlicy 
enjoyed  the  privilege  of  conversation  ai»d  of  nnitual 
sympathy  and  encoura<^ement ;  but  when  se|)aratc(l, 
as  th(!y  were  ij^norant  of  the  languaoe  of  the  In- 
dians, they  could  converse  with  no  one  ;  they  were 
shut  up  to  their  own  fears,  reflections,  and  desij^ji<s. 
When  separated,  they  were  jriven  to  three  chiefs, 
wlu)  had  lost  sons  in  war.  Their  canoe  was  de- 
stroyed, so  as  to  prevent  tiieir  escape  ;  and  those  f)f 
the  Indians  were  ct)ncealed.  Their  goods,  also,  were 
taken  from  them.  They  were  now  obliged  to  travel 
on  foot.  When  they  came  to  rivers,  they  swam 
them.  As  the  weather  was  cold,  and  ice  was 
fo'med,  they  would  sometimes  be  so  severely 
wounded  by  the  sharp  edges  of  the  ice  that,  when 
they  came  out  of  the  water,  they  would  be  covered 
with  blood.  Father  Hennepin  became  so  exhausted 
that  he  sometimes  laid  down  with  a  determinatioi? 
to  die,  rather  than  follow  the  savages  any  farther. 
But  his  captors  knew  how  to  shake  his  determina- 
tion. They  would  set  lire  to  the  dry  grass  over 
which   they  had   travelled,  and   thus   leave   him   no 


304 


DIVISION    OF    SPOIL. 


|i    v 


other  choice  but  to  march  or  burn.  So  near  did 
the  fire  approach  him  that  sometimes  his  hat  fell  off 
into  it  and  got  singed ;  but  the  Indians  snatched 
it  out  again,  and,  seizing  him  by  the  hand,  hurried 
him   on. 

After  travelling  on  foot  about  two  hundred  miles, 
enduring  great  hardships  and  many  outrages,  Hen- 
nepin was  glad  to  find  that  they  were  approaching 
their  settlements.  The  whole  band  now  paused. 
As  they  were  composed  of  different  parties,  and 
were  here  to  separate,  it  became  necessary  to  divide 
the  spoil  belonging  to  the  captives.  They  were  par- 
ticularly delighted  with  a  roll  of  Martinico  tobacco. 
It  was  so  well  prepared,  and  formed  into  such  beau- 
tiful rings,  that  they  were  jjerfectly  charmed  with  it. 
They  also  appropriated  to  themselves  Hennepin's 
sacerdotal  robes  and  utensils  with  which  he  per- 
formed religious  service,  except  the  chalice.  That 
they  did  not  touch.  Being  plated  with  silver,  it  re- 
flected the  hght  strongly,  causing  them  to  close  their 
eyes  when  they  looked  towards  it.  They  would 
not  take  that,  because,  as  he  afterwards  learnt,  . 
they  supposed  it  was  a  spirit,  and  would,  in  some 
mysterious  way,  destroy  their  life. 

As  the  warriors  approached  their  village,  they 
were  met  by  large  numbers  of  women  and  children, 
who  came  out  to  give  them  a  greeting  and  to  learn 
the  results  of  their  expedition. 


A    FANTASTIC    MUSICIAN. 


ao5 


did 

I  off 
ched 
irried 

miles, 
llen- 

icliing 
aused. 

s,   and 
divide 

re  par* 
obacco. 
\i  beau- 
witU  it. 
incpin's 
le   per- 
That 
r,  it  re- 
se  their 
would 
learnt,  ■ 
lin   some 

|cre,   they 

ichildren, 

to  learn 


Hennepin  observed  several  huts,  near  the  posU  of 
w  kCh  lay  bundles  of  straw  and  dried  vvccls.  It 
Wb  5  tlie  place  where  these  savaj^es  were  iccus- 
ton  ?d  to  burn  their  enemies  taken  in  battle. 

1  >esently  Picard  du  Gay  mad«  his  appearance, 
deck  1  in  fantastic  style.  His  hair  and  face  were 
paintv^  ^  of  different  colors,  and  from  the  toj)  of  his 
head  jOse  a  tuft  of  white  feathers.  The  savages 
had  learnt  that  Picard  could  sing.  Perhaps  he 
had  amused  them  by  displays  of  his  talent  when 
rowing  on  the  river.  They  ordered  him  to  exercise 
it  now ;  so  that  he  could  say,  with  the  exiled  .lews, 
"  They  that  carried  iis  away  caj)tive  required  of  us  a 
song;  and  they  that  wasted  us  recpiired  of  us  mirth." 
Refusal  was  out  of  the  (juestion.  Whilst  singing,  as 
he  had  no  violin  or  other  instrument  to  aid  him,  he 
accompanied  his  voice  with  a  vegetable  rattle,  made 
of  a  hollow  gourd,  containing  small  stones.  Hen- 
nepin knew  not  what  to  expect,  whether  to  be  sacri- 
ficed or  delivered.  Presently  great  dishes  made  of 
birch-trees  were  brought  in,  filled  with  wild  oats, 
mixed  with  other  grain,  of  which  they  were  invited 
to  eat.     It  was  a  friendly  service. 

In  the  distribution  of  the  captives.  Father  Henne- 
pin fell  to  Aquipaguctin,  who  apparently  adoj)ted 
him  as  a  son,  in  the  place  tf  the  one  whom  he  had 
lost  in  war.  They  smoked  the  calumet  together, 
and  exchanged  other  courtesies,  by  which  they  sealed 
2G* 


306 


AN    INDIAN   ADOPTS    HKNNEPIN. 


their  friendship  with  each  other.  When  Aqui- 
pagiietin  brought  Hennepin  to  his  cabin,  he  intro- 
duced him  to  his  five  wives  as  his  son,  and  ordered 
them  to  treat  him  as  such,  and  to  call  him  by  his 
appropriate  title.  They  then  set  before  him  a  bark 
dish,  containing  brcmes  and  other  frcsh-watcr  fisli 
for  him  to  eat.  In  the  wigwam  was  an  Indian 
very  old,  who  wept,  and  seemed  greatly  concerned 
that  the  adopted  son  was  so  exhausted  and  feeble. 
He  kindly  rubbed  his  arras  and  head,  and  offered 
him  a  large  pipe  to  smoke.  A  bear's  skin  was 
spread  upon  the  floor,  on  which  he  was  made  to 
lie,  and  then  one  of  the  boys  anointed  his  thighs, 
legs,  and  feet  with  the  grease  of  wildcats,  by  which 
his  skin  was  softened,  and  his  joints,  which  were 
stiff  and  sore  from  his  fatiguing  journey,  were  ren- 
dered snpple. 

Whilst  lying  there,  a  ridiculous  scene  was  pre- 
sented before  him.  One  of  the  sons  of  Aquipague- 
tin  took  the  brocade  chasuble,  one  of  the  robes  worn 
by  Father  Hennepin  when  engaged  in  his  Roman 
Catholic  ceremonies  at  the  altar,  and,  spreading  it 
out,  he  carefully  placed  upon  it  the  bones  of  some 
distinguished  Indian,  whose  memory  was  greatly  re- 
vered, and  tied  them  up  in  it ;  then  binding  it  round 
with  the  priest's  girdle,  another  article  of  Hennepin's 
ecclesiastical  dress,  he  threw  the  bundle  over  his 
naked  back  and  pompously  paraded  around  the  wig- 
wam, crying  out,  "  Louis  chinnen,"  that  is,  "  The 


fit  c 


AN    INDIAN    SWEAT. 


307 


A.qui- 
intro- 
ileretl 
by  his 
I  bark 
cr  fish 
[uJiaii 
nerned 
i'eebie. 
otTcred 
in  was 
tide  to 
thighs, 
'  which 
h  were 
jre  reu- 

as  prc- 
lipague- 
es  worn 
Koman 
iadiug  it 
of  some 
■eatly  re- 
it  round 
inuepiu's 
over  his 
.  the  wig- 
is,  '*  Tlie 


robe    of   the    sun."     Hennepin's   reUgious    feelings 
must  have  been  sensibly  affected  by  the  scene. 

Aquipaguetin  clothed  his  newly-adopted  son  in 
two  robes,  one  made  of  the  softest  part  of  the  skins 
of  buffaloes,  and  the  other  of  castor  or  beaver  skins. 
As  Hennepin  found  it  difficult  to  move  about,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  hardships  he  had  experienced,  his 
kind  relatives  obliged  him  to  take  an  Indian  sweat. 
A  large  oven  was  built,  into  whicli  he  and  four  oth- 
ers entered  entirely  naked.  In  it  were  then  placed 
red  hot  flints  and  stones,  to  heat  it.  He  was  told  to 
hold  his  breath  as  long  as  possible.  As  soon  as  his 
savage  companions  had  let  go  their  breath,  which 
was  done  with  much  force,  Aquipaguetin,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  number  of  others,  began  a  song  in  a  loud 
tone  of  voice,  and  at  the  same  time,  laying  hold  of 
Hennepin,  they  gave  him  a  good  rubbing.  The 
operation  almost  caused  him  to  faint.  But  the  rep- 
etition of  it  thrice  a  week,  in  the  course  of  time 
restored  him  to  his  usual  visfor. 

After  his  adoption,  Hennepin  was  not  treated  with 
much  affection.  Hard  work  and  miserable  food 
were  assigned  him.  He  was  compelled  to  cultivate 
pulse  and  tobacco,  and  live  on  a  small  quantity  of 
wild  rice  and  the  roes  of  dried  fish.  The  mariner's 
compass  which  he  had  with  him  furnished  the  In- 
dians no  little  amusement.  Jlis  father  Aquipague- 
tin would  take  it,  show  it  to    the    spectators,  and 


f  '     > 


308 


THE    POT    WITH    THE    LION. 


then,  turning  the  needle  round,  would  let  them  see 
how  mysteriously  it  would,  of  its  own  accord,  slowly 
but  surely  move  back  again,  and  stop  when  it 
pointed  due  north.  Whilst  gazing  with  wonder  at 
this  strange  machine,  he  told  the  Indians  that  it  was 
this  instrument  which  enabled  white  men  to  travel  all 
over  the  world  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  that  white  men 
were  spirits,  and  possessed  power  to  do  many  things 
which  were  beyond  the  ability  of  the  Indians. 

Another  article  which  seems  to  have  been  re- 
garded with  more  apprehension  than  the  needle, 
especially  by  the  women,  was  an  iron  pot  which 
Hennepin  had  carried  with  him  on  his  journey,  and 
in  which  he  was  accustomed  to  cook  his  food.  This 
pot  had  the  figure  of  a  lion  upon  it.  The  Indians 
would  never  touch  it  without  first  covering  their 
hands  with  castor  skin.  So  greatly  did  it  terrify  the 
women  that  they  would  not  sleep  in,  nor  even  enter, 
a  cabin  where  it  was.  They  had  it  hung  out  of 
doors,  upon  the  boughs  of  a  tree.  Hennepin  would 
have  presented  it  to  one  of  the  chiefs ;  but  none  of 
them  would  accept  of  it,  because  they  imagined  it 
contained  a  spirit  which  would  destroy  them.  Such 
is  Hennepin^s  account.  It  is  not  impossible  that  his 
story  is  overwrought.  On  some  occasion,  when  the 
pot  was  heated,  some  of  them  might  have  taken 
hold  of  it,  and  got  burnt ;  and  as  they  could  not 
tell,  from  its  appearance  at  any  given  time,  whether 


H'UTTING    BLACK    TO    WHITE. 


309 


it  was  lioated  or  not,  tliey  might  ever  afterwards,  as 
a  prudential  arrangement.,  have  covered  their  hands 
with  skin  before  tliey  touched  it.  It  is  a  suspicious 
circumstance  that  Hennepin  should  enter  into  tiie 
n)otives  of  their  conduct  on  various  occasions,  when 
he  candidly  admits  that  he  was  entirely  ignorant  of 
their  hmguage,  and  was  destitute  of  an  interpreter. 
On  this  account,  his  explanations  of  their  conduct, 
and  his  interpretation  of  their  speeches,  must  be  re- 
ceived with  considerable  allowance. 

In  order  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  their  lan- 
guage, he  made  himself  familiar  with  the  children, 
and  picked  up  words"  from  them.  /  er  he  had 
learnt  how  to  ask,  in  their  language,  "  What  do 
you  call  this  ?"  he  made  rapid  progress  in  ascertain- 
ing the  names  of  different  articles.  But  when  he 
wanted  to  get  the  Indian  word  for  a  verb,  he  was 
obliged  to  act  it,  and  then  ask  them  what  they  called 
his  conduct.  To  learn  the  Indian  word  run,  he 
would  run  across  his  cabin,  and  then  ask  them  what 
he  had  done  ;  he  woidd  then  set  the  word  down. 
When  they  ascertained  his  object  —  that  he  was 
endeavoring  to  learn  their  language  —  they  readily 
assisted  him  by  telling  the  names  of  different  ob- 
jects. One  day  they  told  him  the  names  of  all  the 
parts  of  the  human  body,  and  were  amused  to  see 
liim  write  them  down,  or,  as  they  expressed  it,  "  put 
black  to  white."     When  they  asked  liim  a  question, 


310 


HENNEPIN    A:;T>  THE    INT  ANT. 


■«;;!t 


he  would  look  over  his  manuscript  dictionary  to  find 
the  appropriate  words  in  which  to  reply.  This 
greatly  diverted  them,  and  they  would  say,  "  When 
we  ask  Father  Louis  any  thing,  (for  so  they  had 
heard  his  French  companions  call  him,)  he  does  not 
answer  us.  But  when  he  looks  upon  the  white  (they 
have  no  word  for  paper)  he  then  talks  and  makes  us 
understand  his  thoughts.  This  white  thing,"  they 
would  add,  "  must  be  a  spirit,  which  teaches  him  to 
understand  all  we  say." 

As  he  became  suiliciently  acquainted'  with  the  lan- 
guage to  converse,  he  gave  them  what  religious  in- 
struction he  could  make  them  understand. 

One  day  Hennepin  found,  in  one  of  the  cabins, 
an  infant  dangerously  sick.  He  told  his  two  canoe 
men,  Michael  Ako  and  Picard  du  Gay,  that  he  felt 
obliged  in  conscience  to  baptize  it,  as  it  was  beyond 
recovery,  and  asked  their  opinion  upon  the  propriety 
of  his  performing  the  ceremony.  Michael  Ako  dis- 
approved it,  because  he  thought  it  might  offend  the 
Indians ;  he  would  not,  therefore,  enter  the  cabin 
and  witness  the  rite.  But  Hennepin,  having  great 
confidence  in  the  spiritual  efficacy  of  the  service, 
could  not  conscientiously  omit  it.  In  his  mind  it 
was  intimately  connected  with  the  salvation  of  the 
dying  child  ;  he  therefore  resolved  lo  perform  it. 
We  will  give  the  account  in  his  own  language, 
leaving   our  readers  to  draw  tlieir   own  inferences. 


INFANT    BAPTISM. 


311 


Y  to  find 
^  This 
"  When 
hey  had 
Joes  not 
ite  (they 
lakes  us 
^,"  they 
)  him  to 

the  lan- 
ious  in- 

cahins, 

0  canoe 
:  he  felt 

beyond 
ropriety 
^ko  dis- 
end  the 
e  cabin 
g  great 
service, 
mind  it 

1  of  the 
R'rm  it. 
nguage, 
3rences. 


"  Being  followed,  then,  by  none  but  Picard  du  Gay, 
who  assisted  as  godfather,  or,  rather,  witness  of  the 
baptism,  I  christened  the  child  and  named  it  Anto- 
netta,  from  St.  Anthony  of  Padua  ;  and  the  rather, 
because  the  said  Peter  du  Gay's  name  was  Anthony 
Anguclla For  want  of  more  proper  uten- 
sils, I  took  a  wooden  dish,  and  having  put  some 
common,  ordinary  water  into  it,  sprinkled  it  upon 
the  head  of  the  little  savage,  pronouncing  the  follow- 
ing words:  'Creature  of  God,  I  baptize  thee  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.'  Then  I  took  half  my  altar-cloth,  which  I 
had  snatched  out  of  the  hands  of  a  savage  who  had 
stolen  it  from  me,  and  spread  it  over  the  body  of  the 
infant. 

"  The  baptism  was  accompanied  with  no  other  cer- 
emony, because  I  was  no  longer  in  a  condition  to 
say  mass,  my  sacerdotal  robes  being  all  taken  from 
me.  I  believed  the  hnen  could  not  serve  to  a  more 
proper  end  than  a  winding-sheet  to  the  first  infant 
of  the  country  that  had  the  happiness  to  be  bap- 
tized. I  know  not  how  far  its  pains  might  be  as- 
suaged by  virtue  of  the  linen,  or  what  alterations  it 
might  feel.  I  am  sure  I  saw  it  laughing  the  next 
day  in  its  mother's  arms,  who  believed  I  had  cured 
her  child.  However,  it  died  some  time  after,  which 
affected  me  more  with  joy  than  grief.  Had  this 
child   recovered,  'twas   much   to  be  feared  'twould 


312 


Hennepin's  reflections. 


have  trod  in  the  steps  of  its  forefathers,  and  been 
overgrown  with  their  infamous  superstitions,  for 
Wfint  of  a  preacher  to  instruct  it.  For  indeed,  if 
those  of  its  nation  dwelhnj^  in  darkness  and  igno- 
rance continue  to  sin  without  law,  they  shall  also 
perish  without  law,  as  we  are  told  by  the  apostle. 
Upon  these  considerations,  I  was  glad  it  had  pleased 
God  to  take  this  Httle  Christian  out  of  the  world, 
lest  it  might  have  fallen  into  temptations  had  it  re- 
covered, which  might  have  engaged  it  in  error  and 
superstition.  I  have  often  attributed  my  preserva- 
tion, amidst  the  grer-test  dangers  which  I  have  ruE 
since,  to  the  care  I  took  for  its  baptism." 


313 


CHAPTER    XXV. 


Tiercccl  Pine.  —  An  Offering  and  Prayer  to  the  Falls.  —  The  Vow 
fulfilled.  —  Picard  forgets  his  Powder. —  A  great  Serpent.— 
Disturbance  in  Camp.  — The  Law  of  Hunting.  —  Hennepin 
goes  to  the  Wisconsin.  —  His  Disappointment.  —  Is  reduced  to 
great  Straits.  —  Indian  and  Thorn.  —  Effect  of  Excitement.  — 
Great  Alarm.  — A  Drove  of  Stags.  —  Fire  Spirits.  — Sieur 
dn  Lulh.  — His  Equipage.  —  Hennepin's  pretended  Relation- 
ship.—Digs  up  his  Properly.  —  His  Discoveries.  —  The  Party 
leave  the  Im/ians.  — They  fire  a  parting  Salute.  —  Its  Effect.— 
They  steal  a  votive  Offering.  —  Arrive  at  Mackinaw.  —  Henne- 
pin's Description  of  Niagara  Falls. 

The   Indians   by  whom  Hennepin  and  his  com- 
panions had  been  carried  into  captivity  he  calls  the 
Issati  and  Nadouessians,  since  known  as  the  Sioux. 
He  remained  among  them  about  three  months,  and 
then   commenced  his   return   down   the  Mississippi 
under  the  protection  of  a  chief  named  Ouasiconde, 
which   means  the  Pierced   Pine.     He  was  accom- 
panied by  Picard  du  Gay.     His  other  canoe  man, 
Michael   Ako,   preferred  to  remain  where   he  was 
than  to  incur  the  dangers  of  the  return  voyage. 
.      As  they  approached  the  Fails  of  the  Mississippi, 
which  Hennepin,  their   first  European  discoverer, 
had  named  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  after  his  patron 
saint,  they  perceived  a  mimber  of  savages,  one  of 
whom  had  ascended  an  oak-tree  near  the  falls,  and 
27 


314 


AN    OFFERING    TO    THE    FALLS. 


hail  fastened  an  embroidered  r()l)e  of  castor  skin  t » 
one  of  the  branches,  as  an  ofTerin-^  to  tlie  tnrbulenf 
water.  In  addition  to  this  sacrifice,  he  addresseU 
the  falls  in  the  followinff  lanj^uajje  :  "  Thou  art  a 
spirit ;  grant  that  those  of  my  nation  may  pass  here 
M'ithout  any  disaster,  that  wo  may  meet  with  a  great 
many  wild  bulls,  and  that  v/e  may  be  so  happy  as  to 
vanquish  our  enemy  and  take  a  great  many  slaves, 
whom,  when  we  have  made  them  suffer  accord- 
ing to  their  merits,  we  will  bring  liither  and  slay  in 
thy  presence.  The  Messenacks  have  slain  some  of 
our  kindred  ;  grant  that  we  may  be  able  to  revenge 
ourselves  upon  them  for  that  offence." 

The  promise  or  vow  which  this  Indian  made,  of 
executing  the  captives  which  might  be  taken  in  war, 
was  soon  after  executed ;  for  on  their  return  from 
hunting  buffaloes  they  fell  in  with  their  enemy, 
killed  a  number,  and  took  several  prisoners.  These 
captives  they  took  to  the  falls,  and,  after  torturing 
them  in  a  most  barbarous  manner,  they  put  them  to 
death. 

After  our  voyagers  had  descended  about  three 
miles  below  the  falls,  Picard  du  Gay  missed  hiss 
powder  ho  n.  After  looking  for  it  all  round  the 
canoe  rJtIiout  success,  he  remembered  that  he  had 
left  it  at  the  falls.  As  this  was  an  important  article, 
Picard  was  obliged  to  return  and  get  it.  When  he 
came  back,  Hennepin  showed  him  a  huge  serpent. 


r-.s 


^Ym 


A    GREAT    SERPENT. 


315 


Its  large  round  as  a  man's  leg,  and  seven  or  eight 
feet  in  length.  It  was  ascending  a  steep,  craggy 
rock  to  get  at  the  swallows'  nests,  hirge  nnnil)ers  of 
which  were  there.  Tliey  pelted  it  with  stones  until 
it  fell  into  the  river.  It  had  a  tongue  of  great 
length,  in  the  form  of  a  lance.  Its  hiss  was  sIju- 
tling,  and  could  be  heard  a  considerable  distance. 
This  adventure  produced  such  an  elfect  upon  our 
travellers  that  both  of  them  dreamed  of  it  frecjuently 
afterwards. 

When  Hennepin  overtook  the  Indians  who  had 
preceded  him  on  the  river,  he  found  that  they  had 
encamped  upon  an  island,  and  were  plentifully  pro- 
vided with  buffalo  meat,  some  of  which  they  gave 
him  and  his  companion,  which  was  very  acceptable. 
But  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  a  dozen  or  more 
Indians  came  blustering  into  the  encampment,  with 
great  clubs  in  their  hands,  and  seemed  desirous  of 
provoking  a  quarrel.  They  overturned  the  tent  of 
those  who  had  extended  to  the  Europeans  their  hos- 
pitality, carried  off  all  the  meat  they  could  find,  and 
the  bladders  of  bears'  oil  they  discovered  they  used 
in  anointing  themselves  from  head  to  foot.  The 
Europeans  supposed  that  these  marauders  were  ene- 
mies, and  prepared  their  weapons  for  an  encounter 
with  them.  Fortun.itely,  however,  though  there  was 
much  noise,  bluster,  and  quarrelling,  no  blood  was 
shed.     Hennepin  soon  obtained  an   explanation  of 


aii|M| 


316 


RULE    OF    IIUNTINU. 


the  affair,  it  arose  from  a  viol.ition  of  Indiati  1u\t 
or  custom  in  buffalo  hunting.  The  rule  is,  when 
any  particular  tribe  are  going  after  these  aiiinialH, 
if  a  portion  of  the  party  arrive  on  the  ground  first, 
for  them  to  remain  until  all  the  others  of  the  tribe 
come,  before  the  hunting  begins,  so  that  all  may  have 
an  equal  chance.  But  if  the  party  who  arrive  first 
begin  the  hunt  before  the  others  are  ready,  it  is 
lawful  to  plunder  them  of  all  that  they  take,  as  the)'- 
drive  the  buffaloes  away,  and  thus  make  it  difiicult, 
if  not  impossible,  for  the  others  to  kill  any.  In  the 
present  case,  the  Indians  who  had  extended  their 
hospitalities  to  Hennepin  and  Du  Gay  had  reached 
the  ground  first,  and,  without  waiting  for  tlie  rest  of 
their  tribe,  had  commenced  the  chase.  When  the 
others  arrived,  they  found  the  game  had  been  driven 
away ;  this  so  enraged  them  that  they  made  the 
attack  which  has  been  described. 

Wiien  no  impatience  is  exhibited,  when  the  hunt- 
ers, as  they  come  on  the  ground,  wait  until  the 
whole  band  have  arrived,  they  are  then  successful  in 
surrounding  large  droves  of  buffaloes  and  cutting 
them  nearly  all  off.  As  they  are,  to  a  great  degree, 
dependent  upon  the  success  of  the  chase  for  their 
means  of  sup])ort,  the  observance  of  the  established 
rule  is  a  matter  of  great  public  interest. 

Whilst  the  savages  were  prosecuting  the  pleasures 
and  profits  of  the  chase,  Hennepin,  with  his  cance 


HENNEPIN  S    DISAPPOINTMENT. 


31' 


idiati  lu\r 

is,  when 

animals, 

II  11(1  first, 

the  tribe 

may  have 

rive   first 

iady,  it  is 

i,  as  the)'' 

difficult, 

In  the 

ied    their 

reached 

le  rest  of 

V^hen  the 

en  driven 

nade    the 

the  hunt- 
until  the 
cessfid  iu 
i  cutting 
it  degree, 
for  their 
stablished 

pleasures 
lis  cance 


man,  went  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  \A'isconsin 
River,  where  La  Salle  had  promised  to  meet  him, 
with  men,  stores,  and  merchandise.  When  'le 
reached  there,  he  found  no  evidence  of  La  Salle's 
visit.  He  returned  sadly  disappointed.  He  was 
reduced  to  great  straits.  Ilis  powder,  consisting  of 
only  six  charges,  he  divided  into  twenty  smaller 
ones,  which  he  resolved  to  use  in  killing  turtles  and 
pigeons  for  food.  These  were  soon  all  gone.  He 
then  had  to  betake  himself  to  three  fish-h(H)ks,  as 
his  only  means  of  suj)port.  With  these  he  occa- 
sionally caught  a  good  fish.  After  much  fatigue  and 
privation,  he  succeeded  in  regaining  the  hunting- 
ground.  The  Indians  had  just  finished  their  sjjorts, 
having  obtained  an  abundance  of  buftalo  meat.  He 
joined  their  company. 

One  day  an  Indian  came  to  him  for  him  to  ex- 
tract a  thorn  which  he  had  unfortunately  run  deeply 
into  his  fi)ot.  Ilentiepin  laid  open  the  wound,  and 
when  in  the  act  of  putting  a'  plaster  upon  it,  the 
camp  was  suddenly  thrown  into  great  alarm  by 
gome  unusual  noise.  All  were  in  consternation. 
Two  hundred  warriors,  armed  w'*'i  bows  and  arrows, 
immediately  ran  to  ascertain  the  cause.  The  woimd- 
ed  Indian,  wnose  foot  iTenncpin  was  doctoring, 
darted  oft",  and  ran  as  rapidly  as  the  rest,  that  he 
might  share  in  the  approaching  contest.  But  in- 
stead of  an  army  of  braves,  all  painted  and  decorated 
27* 


318 


ALARM  FROM  A  DROVE  OF  STAGS. 


for  bloody  warfare,  they  met  with  a  drove  of  iibout 
a  hundred  stags,  more  frightened  than  tliemselves, 
which  were  running  at  the  top  of  their  speed. 
When  the  excitement  was  over,  the  poor  tliorn- 
pierced  Indian  found  it  no  easy  thing  to  regain  the 
camp.  His  race  had  lacerated  his  wound,  and  made 
it  difficult  for  him  now  to  walk. 

Some  time  after  this,  another  alarm  occurred. 
Some  old  Indians,  who  were  stationed  on  the  top 
of  the  mountains  to  look  out  for  the  approach  of 
enemies,  sent  word  to  the  village  that  warriors  were 
advancing  from  a  distance.  The  Indians  immedi- 
ately sallied  out  towards  them,  each  eager  to  be  the 
first  in  action ;  but  all  that  they  saw  were  two  of 
their  own  women,  who  had  come  to  inform  them 
that  one  of  the  parties  who  had  gone  a  hunting 
towards  the  Upper  Lake  had  discovered  Fire  spirits 
—  the  name  by  which  they  designated  Euiopeans. 
By  means  of  interpreters,  these  spirits  informed  the 
Indians  who  they  were,  and  learnt  from  them  that 
other  Europeans  were  with  their  people  at  home. 
This  made  them  anxious  to  visit  the  encampment, 
that  they  might  learn  whether  the  Europeans  of 
whom  they  spoke  were  English,  Dutch,  Spaniards, 
or  Canadians. 

These  strangers  who  were  found  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Upper  Lake  proved  to  be  Sieur  du  Luth  and 
five  companions,  from  Ctuuula.     Both  parties  were 


m 


HENNEPfN    AND    DU    LITH. 


319 


)f  about 
mselves, 
•  speed, 
r  tliorn- 
2;ain  the 
lid  made 

(ccurred. 

the  top 
roach  of 
ors  were 
imniedi- 
to  be  the 
;  two  of 
rm  them 

hunting 
re  spirits 
1 1  opeans. 
rmed  the 
liem  that 
at  home, 
impment, 
peans  of 
paniards, 

e  vicinity 
Luth  and 
•ties  were 


overjoyed  to  see  each  other.  Havinff  been  Ion«r  al)- 
sent  from  honAe,  roaming  about  among  the  wild  sav- 
ages, it  was  a  great  comfort  to  meet  tliose  with 
whom  they  could  converse  in  their  own  lan<'-ua<re. 
who  had  experienced  similar  perils  and  privations 
with  themselves.  The  equipage  of  Sieur  du  Luth 
and  his  men  made  them  appear  "  half  soldier,  half 
merchant."  So  careless  had  they  been  in  keeping 
their  reckonings  that  none  of  them  could  tell  the 
day  of  the  month.  Hence  they  knew  not  when  to 
observe  the  Sabbath  nor  their  church  festivals. 

As  Du  Luth  was  regarded  with  more  reverence 
by  the  savages  than  Hennepin,  he  pretended  that 
Hennepin  was  his  brother ;  this  was  the  means  of 
securing  to  Hennepin  better  treatment  than  he  had 
previously  received. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1G80,  the  combined  par- 
ties  arrived  at  the  village  of  the  Issati  or  Sioux  In- 
dians, where  Hennepin  had  buried  his  chalice,  books, 
and  pa; jers  in  the  presence  of  the  Indians.  He  found 
them  all  safe.  None  of  them  had  been  Couched.  Their 
preservation  he  attributes  more  to  the  superstition 
than  the  honesty  of  the  Indians.  The  garden  which 
he  had  cultivated  there  was  filled  with  grass  and 
weeds,  yet  his  cabbage  and  jiurslain  had  grown  finely. 

Hennepin  was  now  anxious  to  return  to  Canada. 
He  had  explored  the  Mississippi  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Wisconsin   to    some    distance    above   the   falls. 


320 


HENNEPIN    RETURNS    HOME. 


These  falls  he  discovered  and  named.  The  same 
was  true  of  the  River  St.  Francis,  which  he  had 
called  after  his  order.  He  had  enlarged  his  knowl- 
edge of  Indian  customs  and  language.  He  wanted 
now  to  return  and  make  known  his  discoveries  and 
adventures.  Accordingly,  in  the  latter  part  of  Sep- 
tember he  bade  the  Indians  adieu.  He,  with  his 
canoe  men  and  the  Sieur  du  Luth's  company,  being 
eight  in  aP,  entered  their  canoes.  As  they  left, 
Du  L  ''  '  aen  fired  their  guns  as  a  farewell  volley, 
which  gi .  [y  terrified  the  natives  who  had  gathered 
by  the  shore  to  see  them  depart.  Thev  descended 
the  St.  Francis,  entered  the  Mississippi,  and  when 
they  reached  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  they  found 
two  skin  robes  which  had  been  hung  up  as  an  offer- 
ing to  the  fails.  Two  of  the  men  appropriated 
these  to  their  own  use.  They  continued  coursing 
down  the  Mississippi  till  they  reached  the  Wiscon- 
sin, which  they  entered,  and  sailed  up  as  far  as  the 
portage.  Crossing  the  portage,  they  launched  their 
canoes  again  upon  the  waters  of  the  Fox  River, 
which  conducted  them  to  Green  Bay,  or  Bay  of 
Puans.  They  arrived  at  Mackinaw  early  in  No- 
vember, eigiit  months  from  the  time  that  Hennepin 
left  Fort  CrevecoDur. 

On  his  return  to  Canada,  he  paused  some  time  at 
Niagara  Falls,  of  which  he  \ViOte  a  minute,  but 
exaggerated   description,  asserting    them    to   be   six 


■I:: 


.1  . 


HENxVEPIN's    description    of    NIAGARA.        321 

hundred  feet  high.  He  also  made  a  drawhig  of 
them,  which  is  probably  the  earliest  picture  of 
them  extant.  It  differs  somewhat  from  the  present 
appearance  of  the  falls,  especially  in  having  a 
stream  or  cascade  of  water  projected  from  Table 
Rock,  across  the  face  of  the  main  fall.  No  such 
stream  exists  now,  from  which  it  is  inferred  that 
since  his  visit  large  portions  of  the  rock  have  fallen, 
and  among  them  that  portion  over  which  this  cross 
stream  fell.* 


We  have  now  accomplished  our  object  in  giving 
a  narrative  of  the  adventures  of  the  first  explorers 
of  North  America.  As  we  study  the  early  history 
of  our  country,  we  cannot  fail  to  admire  the  watch- 
ful care  of  a  kind  Providence.  We  cannot,  per- 
haps, more  appropriately  close  this  volume  than 
with  the  following  interesting  facts  illustrative  of 
this  remark  :  — 

When  Columbus  was  on  his  first  voyage  to  this 
country,  the  direction  of  his  vessel,  as  he  neared  the 
coast,  was  changed  by  a  very  trivial  circumstance ; 
yet  this  change  was  followed  by  consequences  of 
great  importance.  The  westward  direction  which 
he  was  pursuing  would  have  conducted  him  into  the 
Gulf  Stream.  As  by  the  power  of  this  current  he 
would  have  been  borne  northwardly,  the  first  land 
which  he  would  have  reached  would  have  been  Flor- 

*  For  additionul  Indian  charactensticB,  sfee  Appendix,  p.  325. 


322 


CHANGE    OF    DESTINY. 


ida  or  North  Carolina.  In  that  case,  North  America 
would  have  been  discovered  and  possessed  by  a 
Roman  Catholic  power,  and  settled  with  a  Roman 
Catholic,  Spanish  population  What  would  have 
been  the  condition  of  this  country,  at  the  present 
time,  if  that  had  been  the  case,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  present  state  and  character  of  the  Roman 
Cathohc  countries  of  South  America.  This  result 
was  escaped  by  a  circumstance  as  unimportant  as 
that  of  a  flight  of  birds.  After  being  tossed  upon 
the  waters  of  an  unexplored  ocean  many  days,  with 
a  mutinous  crew,  and  incurring  additional  dangers 
eve'y  l.our,  Columbus  was  extremely  anxious  to 
discover  land.  There  had  been,  for -several  days, 
indications  that  land  could  not  be  far  off,  but  in 
what  precise  direction  to  look  for  it  was  unknown  ; 
when  one  evening  a  flock  of  birds,  said  to  have  been 
parrots,  were  seen  flying  towards  the  south-west, 
as  if  seeking  a  place  to  pass  the  night.  Pinzon, 
one  of  the  officers  of  Columbus,  persuaded  the 
admiral  to  follow  the  direction  of  these  birds,  as 
he  believed  they  were  flying  towards  the  nearest 
land.  His  advice  was  followed,  and  the  result  was, 
they  discovered  one  of  the  West  India  islands, 
which  was  afterwards  followed  by  the  discovery  of 
South  America.  If  it  had  not  been  for  this  circum- 
stance, Columbus,  by  keeping  on  in  the  direction 
which  he  was  previously  pursuing,  would  have  come 


1 

^'^;^■l 

.  ': 

i 

ii^li^ 

V    !■ 

'.  ;.'    ■  . 

m 

yi_ 

SMALL    \^SSELS. 


323 


erica 
by  a 
iman 
have 
esent 
erred 
oman 
result 
mt  as 
upon 
5,  with 
augers 
[)US     to 

I  (lays, 
but   in 
jiown ; 
ve  been 
;h-\vest, 
Pinzon, 
ed    the 
rds,  as 
nearest 
ult  was, 
islands, 
•very  of 
circuni- 
lirection 
^e  come 


npon  the  coast  of  North  America,  and  then  how 
different  would  have  been  the  destiny  of  our  coun- 
try !  Humboldt,  in  his  "  Cosmos,"  says,  "  Never 
had  the  flight  of  birds  more  important  conse- 
quences. It  may  be  said  to  have  determined  the 
first  settlements  on  the  new  continent,  and  its 
distribution  between  the  Latin  and  Germanic 
races." 

Another  circumstance  which  may  well  excite 
surprise  is,  that  the  early  navigators  to  the  new 
world  were  willing  to  venture  in  vessels  of  such 
small  tonnage,  and  so  poorly  nttcd  to  endure  the 
perils  of  the  ocean.  Mr.  Bancroft  says,  "  The 
daring  and  skill  of  these  earliest  adventurers  upon 
the  ocean  deserve  our  highest  admiration.  The 
difficulties  of  crossing  the  Atlantic  were  new,  and 
it  required  the  greater  courage  to  encouuter  haz- 
ards which  ignorance  exaggerated.  The  character 
of  the  prevalent  winds  and  currents  was  unknown. 
The  possibility  of  making  a  direct  passage  was  but 
gradually  discovered.  The  imagined  dangers  were 
infinite ;  the  real  dangers  exceedingly  great.  The 
ships  at  first  employed  for  discovery  were  gen- 
erally of  less  than  one  hundred  tons  burden ; 
Frobisher  sailed  in  a  vessel  of  but  twenty-five  tons ; 
two  of  those  of  Columbus  were  without  a  deck ; 
and  so  perilous  were  the  voyages  deemed,  that  the 
sailors  were  accustomed,  before  embarking,  to  per 


.>J,J.II»> 


J 


324 


A    KIND    PROVIDENCE. 


form  solemn  acts  of  devotion,  as  if  to  prepare  for 
eternity." 

As,  therefore,  notwithstanding  their  many  tl"  sad- 
vantages,  these  early  voyagers  accomplished  so 
much  in  the  way  of  discovery,  their  success  fur- 
nishes an  impressive  illustration  of  the  watchful 
care  of  a  kind  Providence. 


•;;  i  M 


» 

C 

a 


CO 


;        .  '- 

.!...■ 

^' 

, 

i . 

r 

- 

1 

1 
i 

, 

^i. 

A  P  P  E  X  D  I  X . 


Note.— Pa^re  321. 


FATIIEU   AXD    SON   IN   BATTLE. 

During  the  intercourse  of  tlie  white  people  with 
the  Indians,  nnniy  interesting  incidents  occurred, 
wliieh  were  iUustrative  of  various  traits  of  char- 
act(>r.  Some  of  these  have  been  narrated  in  the 
preceding  j>ages.  It  is  now  proposed  to  present  a 
variety  of  others,  but  without  regard  to  chrono- 
logical order.  We  leave  it  for  the  reader  to  de- 
duce the  traits  of  character  which  these  anecdotes 
ilhistrate.* 

In  the  war  between  the  English  and  the  French, 
ioY  their  American  possessions,  a  chief  of  the  Five 
Nations  and  his  father  fought  on  opposite  sides. 
Tiie  chief  was  with  the  English  ;  his  father  with 
the  Frenck  In  one  of  the  battles,  they  met,  and 
just  as  the  chief  was  about  to  inflict  a  fatal  blow 
ui)on  his  opponent's  head,  he  discovered  that  he 
was  his  father.  Instantly  his  hand  dropped,  and 
instead  of  killing  him,  he  said  to  his  fatJier,  "You 
have  once  given  me  life,  and  now  I  give  it  to  you. 
Let  me  meet  you  no  more,  fo  '  nave  paid  the  debt 
I  owed  you." 

•  Drake's  Book  of  tluj  Ijulians  of  North  America. 

325 


-».'» 


326 


APPENDIX. 


An  Ottawa  cliicf,  who  liad  rcooivcd  tlic  pof'nli..-f 
naiiio  of  Wliitc  Jolin,  was  very  fond  of  li(iuor. 
One  (lay  Count  Frontcnac  asked  liini,  "  what  ho 
thouGjlit  brandy  was  made  of?" 

The  chief  replied  tliat  he  "thonglit  it  must  bo 
made  of  hearts  and  tongues,  for,"  1  led,  "when 

I  Ijave  drunken  plenty  of  it,  my  heart  is  a  thou- 
sand strong,  and  I  can  talk,  too,  with  astonishing 
freedom  .and  ra])idity." 

The  following  is  an  interesting  illustration  of 
overcomiiiG:  evil  with  u^ood  :  — 

CD  '    ' 

A  hunter,  when  wandering  for  game  among  the 
woods  of  Virginia,  vras  overtaken  bv  a  storm,  and 
sought  refuge  Avith  an  English  ]»lanler,  whom  lie 
met  at  the  door  of  his  house.  Jjeing  botli  hungry 
and  thirsty,  he  asked  for  some  b'ead  and  water, 
but  the  planter  answered,  in  eao'  se,  "No,  you 
shall  have  nothing  liere!  Get  yo..  <jone^  you  In- 
dian dog  f"* 

The  Indian  departed  from  this  inhospitable 
cabin,  as  we  may  suppose,  in  no  very  pleasant 
mood. 

Some  time  after  this,  the  planter  himself  got 
lost  in  the  woods,  and  after  wandering  uselessly 
about  for  a  whole  day,  he  fortunately  came  upon 
an  Indian's  hut,  where  he  received  a  hearty  wel- 
come. XJ])on  inquiring  how  far  lie  was  from  the 
white  settlements,  and  in  what  direction  he  should 
go  to  reach  them,  the  Indian  told  him  he  could 
not  go  in  the  night,  and  he  had  better  stay  with 


OVERCOMING   EVIL   WITH   GOOD. 


3-27 


of 


him  till  TTiorniiic^,  .'Hi«l  tlion  he  woukl  p^owitli  liiiii 
Ho  offoivd  liiin  both  food  and  lodging.  Tho 
planter  was  glad  to  avail  himself  of  tho  rude  hos. 
pitality  of  his  unknown  Indian  friend. 

In  the  morning  the  Indian,  instead  of  telling 
him  how  to  go  to  reach  the  white  settlements, 
went  with  him,  as  he  had  previously  promised  to 
do,  till  they  came  in  sight  of  the  little  village. 

The  Indian  all  this  while  knew  perfectly  well 
that  this  was  the  ])lantcr  who  had  driven  him  from 
tho  house  in  a  storm,  though  the  planter  did  not 
recognize  the  Indian.  As  they  were  about  to  sep- 
arate, the  Indian  looked  his  companion  full  in  tho 
face,  and  said,  "Do  you  not  know  me?" 

Surprised  and  terrified  at  discovering  this  to  be 
the  Indian  whom  he  had  treated  with  so  much 
inhumanity,  he  began  immediately  to  apologize 
and  to  ask  pardon  for  his  conduct.  But  the  more 
humane  savage  intorrui)tcd  him  by  saying,  "When 
you  see  poor  Indian  fainting  for  a  cup  of  cold 
water,  don't  say  agai  i, '  Get  you  gone,  you  Indian 
dog!'"  lie  might  have  revenged  himself  by 
killing  the  planter;  but  instead  of  so  dohig,  ho 
administered  this  gentle  reproof,  and  then  let  him 
go  liis  way.     He  overcame  evil  with  good. 

The  following  is  an  exhibition  of  a  different 
trait:  —  A  sea  captjiin  being  desirous  to  present 
to  a  lady  some  fine  oranges,  engaged  an  Indian  to 
take  them  to  her.  Fearing  lest  the  messenger 
might  not  deliver  the  whole  number,  he  sent  by 


328 


APPENDIX. 


him  .1  note  to  the  lady,  statini?  how  many  there 
wore,  so  that  she  miL^ht  detect  his  dishonesty,  if 
he  kept  any  back.  On  the  way  the  Indian  de- 
sired to  regale  himseli"  with  some  of  the  tempting 
fruit,  but  was  at  a  loss  how  to  do  it  and  escape 
detection.  After  reflecting  upon  the  subject  for 
some  timo,  he  finally  concluded  that  he  could 
gratify  liis  a])petite  with  impunity,  if  he  could  do 
it  witliont  bemg  seen  by  the  letter,  which  he  sup- 
I)Osed  would  in  some  way  betray  him  if  it  saw  his 
conduct.  lie  therefore  concealed  the  letter  under 
a  large  stone.  He  then  retired  to  a  considerable 
distance,  and  secretly  devoured  several  of  the 
oranges,  after  which  he  j^roceeded  on  his  journey. 
When  he  reached  the  residence  of  the  lady,  he 
delivered  the  fruit  and  the  letter. 

"Where  are  the  rest  of  the  oranges?"  asked 
the  lady. 

"I  have  given  you  all,"  was  the  Indian's  reply. 

"  No,  you  have  not,"  said  the  lady.  "  The  letter 
states  that  there  were  several  more." 

"The  letter  lies  and  you  must  not  believe  it," 
said  the  dishonest  savage. 

But  he  was  soon  convinced  that  his  theft  and 
falsehood  were  discovered.  He  tlien  acknowl- 
edged the  crime,  begged  forgiveness,  and  ob- 
tained pardon. 

An  old  Indian  who  had  spent  many  years 
among  the  white  colonists,  and  who  had  become 
acquainted  with  their  methods  of  obtaining  a 


INDIAN  S    OPINION    OF    MARRIAGE. 


329 


wife,  thouglit  that  the  Indian  mode  of  getting  one 
was  the  best,  and  was  the  most  Hkely  to  result  in 
getting  a  good  one.  " For,"  said  he,  "white  man 
court  —  court — may  be  one  whole  year!  —  may 
be  tv/o  years  before  he  marry.  Well,  may  be 
then  he  get  very  good  wife  —  but  may  be  not  — 
may  be  very  cross.  Well,  now,  suppose  cross! 
Scold  all  day!  —  scold  until  sleep!  —  all  one  —  he 
must  keep  him.  White  people  have  law  forbid- 
dinsc  throw  awav  wife  he  be  ever  so  cross  — 
must  keep  him  always  I  Well,  how  does  Indian 
do?  Indian,  when  he  sec  industrious  squaw,  he 
go  to  him,  place  his  two  forefingers  close  aside 
each  other,  make  two  like  one  —  then  look  squaw 
in  the  face — see  him  smile  —  this  is  all  one,  he 
say  yes!  —  so  he  take  him  homo  —  no  danger  he 
be  cross  —  no,  no  —  squaw  know  too  well  what 
Indian  do  if  be  cross !  throw  him  away  and  take 
another!  Squaw  love  to  eat  meat  —  no  husband, 
no  meat.  Squaw  do  everything  to  please  hus- 
band, he  do  everything  to  please  squaw  —  live 
happy." 

On  a  certain  occasion  a  minister  was  preaching 
to  a  congregation  where  Indians  were  present. 
He  took  for  his  text.  Vow,  and^juy  unto  the  Lord 
thy  vows.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  one  of  the 
Indians  stepped  up  to  the  minister,  and  said, 
"  Now  me  vow  go  home  with  you,  Mr.  Minister." 
The  ])reacher,  being  unwilling  to  offend  him,  re- 
plied, "  Then  you  must  go."     Having  arrived  at 


330 


APPENDIX. 


ii 


the  house,  the  Indian  vowed  again,  saying,  "Xo\* 
me  vow  me  liave  supper."  After  having  eaten 
ell  he  needed,  he  said,  "Me  vow  me  stay  all 
night."  The  minister,  getting  somewhat  impa- 
tient, thought  that  is  was  his  turn  to  vow,  and 
said,  "  It  may  be  so,  but  Ivoio  you  shall  go  in  the 
morning."  The  Indian,  judging  from  the  de- 
cided manner  in  which  his  host  spoke,  kept 
silent,  and  in  the  morning  dis*  eared  without 
ceremony. 

When  the  Shawano  Indians  were  obliged  to 
remove  from  their  lands,  on  their  way  they  took 
OM  Seranny,  a  Muskogee  warrior,  prisoner.  Ac- 
cording to  their  barbarous  custom,  they  first  in- 
flicted upon  him  «i  severe  bastinado  and  then  con- 
demned him  to  be  burnt.  After  the  fire  had 
been  kindled,  and  he  had  endured  great  suffering 
with  Indian  hardihood,  i.  e.,  without  showing  the 
least  sense  of  pain,  he  said,  in  substance,  to  his 
])ersecutors,  "  I  am  a  warrior ;  I  have  gained  my 
honors  at  the  expense  of  your  nation,  and  I  can 
show  you  in  the  act  of  dying  that  I  am  as  much 
superior  to  you  as  I  was  when  ^'^  fought  you  at  the 
head  of  my  brave  warriors ;  and  although  I  have 
in  some  way  offen<led  the  Great  Spirit,  so  that  he 
has  allowed  me  to  fall  into  your  ha.ids,  yet  I  have 
so  much  courage  and  endurance  that  I  can  punish 
myself  far  more  severely  than  you  can  if  you 
wonld  only  give  me  the  opportunity.  Give  me 
my  liberty;  untie  my  hands,  and  then  give  mo 


OLD   SCRANNT. 


331 


your  red  hot  giin-barrols  and  I  will  show  you  .1 
more  exquisite  mode  of  torture  than  any  wliich 
you  in  your  ignorance  can  invent,  and  one  wortliy 
for  me  to  suffer."  vVnxlous  to  sec  tliis  new  and 
more  barbarous  mode  of  inflictinsr  suffcrinir,  and 
surprised  at  the  boldness  of  the  proposal,  they 
complied  with  his  request.  After  he  was  made 
free,  he  seized  one  end  of  a  heate<l  giui-barrcl, 
brandished  it  from  side  to  si<le,  and  then,  to  their 
amazement,  he  started  off  fleet  as  a  hunte<l  deer. 
He  broke  his  way  through  their  ranks;  lea))ed 
down  a  high  steep  bank;  jdunged  into  a  river; 
dived  an<l  swam  under  water  to  an  island  ;  ran 
across  the  island ;  crossed  a  branch  of  the  river 
amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  for  the  enemy  were  now 
after  him ;  plunged  into  a  swamp  of  briers  and 
brambles,  and  though  naked  and  suffering  from 
the  effects  of  the  fire,  he  succeeded  in  making  his 
escape,  and  finally  reached  his  own  country  and 
people  in  safety,  though  torn  and  haggard  and 
almost  worn  out. 

It  is  a  practice  too  common,  for  white  men  who 
trade  with  Indians  to  deceive  and  cheat  them. 
This  was  done  in  a  variety  of  ways  in  the  early 
liistory  of  the  country.  Sometimes  the  Indians 
discovered  and  rescnt(;d  it,  as  in  the  following  in- 
stance: —  A  white  trader,  in  order  to  sell  a  quan- 
tity of  powder  to  an  Indiin,  told  him  that  it  was 
seed,  and  if  he  planted  it  it  would  giovv.  Tii(» 
Indian  believing  that  by  sowing  it  he  could  raise 
a  large  crop,  the  sale  of  which  would  bring  him  a 


332 


APPENDIX. 


large  amount  of  money,  besides  supplying  him 
with  all  the  powder  he  would  need  for  his  own 
use,  was  induced  to  purchase  it.  In  the  spring  he 
prepared  a  piece  of  ground  with  great  care,  and 
then  sowed  his  powder  as  if  it  had  been  so  much 
wheat.  He  expected  that  in  a  week  or  two  he 
should  see  it  sprouting  from  the  ground.  But  he 
did  not.  He  visited  the  field  again  and  again, 
but  saw  no  change.  But  it  was  not  until  Summer 
was  over,  and  Autumn  liad  passed  away,  and 
Winter,  with  its  ice  and  snow  had  come,  that  he 
was  convinced  of  the  deception.  He  of  course 
felt  chagrined,  but  Indian-like,  he  said  nothing. 
Whatever  intentions  he  had  to  retaliate  he  kept 
to  himself.  Some  time  after  this,  when  he  su])- 
posed  the  trader  had  forgotten  all  about  it,  lie 
went  to  him  to  ])uy  other  stores.  He  managed  to 
make  such  a  favorable  impression  upon  the 
trader's  mind  as  to  obtain  credit  for  a  large 
amount.  AVhen  the  time  arrived  for  the  payment 
of  the  bill,  the  trader  called  upon  him  and  asked 
for  his  money.  The  Indian  listened  to  his  de- 
mand with  characteristic  patience  and  silence, 
and  then,  looking  the  dishonest  trader  sternly  in 
the  eye,  lie  said,  with  an  expression  of  cunning 
on  his  swarthy  features,  '-''Me  pay  you  ichen  tny 
powder  groicT  The  trader  saw  that  he  was 
caught,  and  letired  from  the  presence  of  his 
debtor  convinced,  we  may  presume,  that  in  his 
case  at  least  honesty  would  have  been  the  best 
policy. 


fimmmmmmmmm 


TQE    STRANGE    INDIAN. 


333 


At  a  time  when  Indian  troubles  existed  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  it  became  important  for  tlie 
colonists  to  keep  a  constant  guard  against  tlic  ap- 
proach of  unfriendly  tribes,  Governor  Jenks  said 
to  a  friendly  Indian  who  visited  him,— 

"If  any  str.mge  Indian  come  to  your  wigwam 
you  let  me  know  it." 
"I  will,"  was  the  reply. 

To  secure  a  faithful  fulfillment  of  the  promise, 
the  Governor  added, — 

"If  you  will  inform  me  of  the  coining  of  any 
stranger,  I  will  give  you  a  mug  of  Hip."  This  was 
a  warm  drink  composed  of  rum  and  sugar,  of 
which  the  Indi:ms,  like  many  white  men,  were 
very  fond.  Of  course  the  savage  was  pleased, 
and  was  on  the  constant  lookout  to  obtain  the 
promised  reward. 

It  was  not  long  before  he  visited  the  Governor 


again. 


"What's  the  news  to-day?"  asked  the  Gov- 
ernor. 

"  Strange  Indian  come  to  my  house  last  nio-ht 
Mr.  Gubenor."  "^ 

"IiKleed!  and  what  did  he  say?"  inquired 
Governor  Jenks. 

"  JIo  no  speak,"  rci)lied  the  Indian. 

"  What,  did  he  not  s])eak  at  all?" 

"No,  he  no  s|»eak  at  all." 

"That  is  ba<l,  it  looks  suspicious,"  said  the 
Governor.     "  Is  he  still  in  your  wigwam ? " 


■■■ 


334 


APPENDIX. 


"ITe  is."  The  Governor  then  performerl  his 
promise  by  ordering  a  mug  of  flip  for  the  in- 
former, who  drank  it  with  pleasure.  Kow  comes 
the  comic  solution  of  the  matter.  Just  as  the  In- 
dian was  about  to  depart  he  coolly  said,  with  an 
imperturbable  countenance, — 

"Mr.  Gubenor,  my  squaw  have  child  last 
night!"  So  that  the  stranger  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor was  about  to  watch  so  carefully,  and  per- 
haps arrest,  turned  out  to  be  a  harmless  Indian 
papoose.  If  the  Governor  had  any  of  his  friends 
or  companions  present  when  this  denouement  was 
reached,  it  must  have  produced  a  boisterous  ex- 
plosion of  mirth. 

From  the  above  incidents  it  is  evident  thnt  in 
many  res])ects  the  character  of  the  American  In- 
dians is  very  similar  to  that  of  other  j)eople.  The 
traits  wherein  they  differ  from  them  are  owing 
more  to  their  different  circumstances  and  educa- 
tluij,  than  to  any  innate  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart.  Tfiis  is  rendered  evident  by  the  fact  that 
Indian  children  who  have  been  educated  and 
trained  amonix  the  whites  have  to  a  creat  dejrree 
lost  their  aboriginal  characteristics,  and  then  have 
imbibed  the  principles,  adopted  the  manners,  an<l 
engaged  in  the  different  kinds  of  employment  of 
the  whites.  And  if  it  were  not  for  their  swarthy 
appearance,  their  Indian  origin  would  never  bo 
BiiBpected. 


■""^innMiHiMimHHii 


CRITICISMS. 


My  Daughter   Susan.    By  Pansy.    With  fi/tecu  illus- 
trations by  Miss  Humphrey.     Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co. 
Paper  covers,  50  cents.     Here  is  a  book,  to  use  an  expression 
of  Hawthorne,  transfixed  witli  a  purpose.    A  book  for  sum- 
mer reading,  bright,  sliarp,  and  thoroughly  interesting,  and 
yet  containing  something  more  than  a  mere  story.     Its  key- 
note  is  temperance,  and  we  doubt  if  any  lecturer  ever  put 
his  arguments  in  more   telling  shape  or  made  his  illustra- 
tions more  fascinating  than  the  author  has  done  in  this  little 
work.    "My  Daughter  Susan-   is  an  original  character;  a 
woman  of  strong  mind  and  fixed  principles,  Idlliant  and 
sympathetic;  the  life  of  social  gatherings,  and  yet  a  most 
determined  opponent  of  the  various  temptations  which  are 
ofifered  at  such  places  in  the  way  of  wines  and  intoxicating 
liqiiors.     The  book  is  the  history  of  her  experiences  for  a 
single  day,  and  shows  what  can  really  be  accomplished  by 
determined  e£fort  in  a  righteous  cause.    The  iUustrations  are 
capital  and  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  volume. 
A  NEW  SUMMER  BOOK. 
"  My  Daughter  Susan  "  is  in  Pansy's  best  vein,  and  uoUi- 
Ing  more  need  be  said  to  those  acquainted  with  her  writings. 
With  rare  insight  into  character,  and  as  rare  a  gift  for  story- 
telUng,  she  unites  a  humor  bubbling  over  in  perpetual  fun, 
and  an  intense  earnestness,  loathing  meanness  and  wrong,' 
which  keep  a  reader  vibrating  between  laughter  and  tears,' 
and  revive  the  best  elements  in  his  nature.     Her  books  arl 
of  the  healthiest  kind,  and  admirable  companions  for  siim- 
njer  travel.    The  illustrations  of  the  volume  are  partijjularlj 
good. 


ip 


■* 


RECENT     BOOKS. 

Yensie  Waltox.  By  Mrs.  S.  R.  Graham  Clark.  Boa- 
ton:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.  $1.50.  Of  tlio  many  good  book3 
which  tho  Messrs.  Lothrop  have  prepared  for  the  shelves  of 
Sunday-school  libraries,  "Yensie  Walton"  is  one  of  tho 
best.  It  is  a  sweet,  pure  story  of  girl  life,  quiet  as  the  flow 
of  a  brouk,  and  yet  of  sufficient  interest  to  hold  the  attention 
of  the  most  careless  reader.  Yensio  is  an  orphan,  "who  has 
found  a  home  with  an  uncle,  a  farmer,  some  distance  from 
the  city.  Her  aunt,  a  coarse,  vulgar  woman,  and  a  tyrant 
in  the  household,  does  her  best  to  humiliate  her  by  making 
her  a  domestic  drudge,  taking  away  her  good  clothing  and 
exchanging  it  for  coarse,  ill-flttiug  garments,  and  scolding 
her  from  morning  till  night.  This  treatment  derelops  a 
spirit  of  resistance ;  the  mild  and  affectionate  little  girl  be- 
comes passionate  and  disobedient,  and  the  house  is  the 
scene  of  continual  quarrels.  Fortunately,  her  uncle  insists 
upon  her  attending  school,  and  in  the  teacher,  Miss  Gray, 
she  finds  her  first  real  friend.  lu  making  her  acquaintance 
a  new  life  begins  for  her.  She  is  brought  in  contact  with 
new  and  better  influences,  and  profiting  by  them  becomes  In 
time  a  sunbeam  in  her  uncle's  house,  and  the  means  of 
softening  the  heart  and  quieting  the  tongue  of  the  aunt  who 
was  once  her  terror  and  dread.  Mrs.  Clark  has  a  very  pleas- 
ing style,  and  is  especially  skilful  in  the  construction  of  her 
stories.  ' 

**  Yensie  Walton  *'  is  a  story  of  great  power,  by  a  new 
author.  It  aims  to  show  that  God  uses  a  stern  discipline  to 
form  tho  noblest  characters,  and  that  the  greatest  trials  of 
life  often  prove  the  greatest  blessings.  The  story  is  subor- 
dinate to  this  moral  aim,  and  the  earnestness  of  the  author 
breaks  out  into  occasional  preaching.  But  the  story  is  full 
of  striking  incident  and  scenes  of  great  pathos,  with  occa- 
sional gleams  of  humor  and  fnn  by  way  of  relief  to  the  more 
tragic  parts  of  the  narrative.  The  characters  are  strongly 
drawn,  and,  in  general,  are  thoroughly  human,  not  gifted 
with  impossible  perfections  but  having  those  infirmities  of 
tiic  flesh  which  make  us  all  akin. 


^rsm^mBs^^pmm'^^im 


iP" 


Six  Little  Rebels.  By  /Tafs  Tannatt  Woods. 
2$  crnyon  drawings  by  B02.  Price,  $1  50.  Boston  : 
D.  LoLlirop  &  Co. 

Six   Little   Rebels,  is  a  charmincr  story  of   five 
iouthern  children,  brought  to  one  of  our  quiet  New 
Enghind  towns  during  the  civil  war.     If  the  south  has 
many  such  families,  a  great  future  lies  before  it,  for  a 
finer  group  of  children  it  would  be  hard  to  reproduce 
in  any  part  of  tiie  world.     Tiie  characters  are  finely 
drawn,  fresli  a  .d  nalunl  as   a  June  morning.     They 
accomodate  thc.nseive.  to  x\ew  England  life  as  if  to 
the  manor  born  ;  and  tlieir  a  Iventures,  an  1  sporting 
bumor,  and  K..in.;  ways  make  up  a  deJiglitful  book. 

Their  teinperary  home  was  well  cl.oscrn.     Dr.  War- 
rington is  a  genuine  New  iingland.r,  uith  shrewd  in- 
sight, quiet  ways,  and  a   perfect  self-mastery,    which 
assures  him  great  influence  over  others.     His  dau-h- 
tcr  Dolly  is  a  jewel,  modest,  self-distrustful,  but  gifted 
with  Yankee  faculty,  equal  to  all  emergencies  ;  Axy,  too, 
the  maid  of  all  work,  and  Aunt  Lucinda  are  admirable 
specimens  of  New  England  character.     The  book  is 
certain  to  be  a  favorite  with  children,  who  will  have 
no  end  of  laughter  over  the  pranks,  of  Lex,  the  mis- 
chievous colored  imp.  and  as  much  enjoyment  over 
the  sweet  prattle  of  baby  Bertie.     We  can't  hav^  too 
much  of  such  literature. 


OUR    BOOK     TABLE. 

Poon  Papa.  By  Mary  W.  Porter.  Illustrated,  Boston: 
D.  Lotlirop  &  Co.  Paper  covers,  50  c<;iits.  Of  all  the  lately 
published  books  in  which  children  bear  a  principal  part, 
one  of  the  most  natural  and  cliartninjj  is  Poor  Papa.  It 
brOAthes  the  Tcry  spirit  of  childhood,  and  one  is  inclined  to 
believe  that  the  author  must  have  drawn  linr  cliaracters  from 
living  models.  Few  writers  have  the  faculty  of  de:«criblng 
children  as  they  are,  and  many  of  the  so  called  "juvenile  " 
books  published  are  dreary  failures  simply  because  their 
writers  have  no  sympathy  with  their  subjects.  Tlie  children 
whom  Miss  Porter  describes  are  genuine  children  and  not 
make-believe.  They  have  all  the  indescribable  ways  and 
peculiarities  that  make  little  people  oftentimes  riddles  to 
their  elders.  Their  journey  abroad  with  **  Poor  Papa,"  who 
oomes  all  the  way  over  the  ocean  for  them,  their  adventuref, 
their  quidnt  observations  on  what  they  see  and  hear,  their 
thorough  enjoyment  of  everything,  the  comical  surprises 
they  are  continually  giving  those  around  them,  are  delight- 
fully set  forth,  and  will  be  as  fascinating  reading  for  the 
older  as  for  the  younger  ones. 

"Poor  Papa"  is  sure  to  be  a  favorite.  It  Is  a  graphic 
story  of  the  perplexities  of  a  father,  left  a  widower,  to  caro 
for  two  children.  The  father  is  an  artist,  absorbed  In  paint- 
ing, and  having  no  knowledge  of  child-nature;  while  his  two 
children,  loving  and  true,  are  like  young  colts,  with  irrepres- 
sible life  and  spirits,  and  perpetually  in  trouble.  They  have 
many  amusing  adventiires  in  Italy,  from  their  rollicking  lovo 
of  freedom  and  fun,  and  barely  escape  with  life  from  a 
governess,  whose  martinet  habits  transform  her  into  an  ogre, 
delighting  in  torture.  But  the  troubles  of  papa  and  children 
find  a  happy  solution  in  the  advent  of  a  new  mamma,  the 
sister  of  a  brother  artist,  whose  fine  womanly  instincts  have 
hel{)ed  the  children  already  over  many  a  hard  place.  Sunv- 
mer  travellers  will  have  many  a  hearty  laugh  over  the  voV 
nme,  and  enjoy  equally  the  humor  of  the  children  and  the 
perplexities  of  "Papa." 


E. 

(1.     Boston : 
,11  tlio  hiteljr 

ir  Papa.    It 
3  Inclined  to 
irat:t«!rs  from 
of  describing 
"juvenile" 
)ecau8e  their 
The  cUlUlrcu 
Idren  and  not 
ble  ways  and 
nes  riddles  to 
,r  Papa,"  who 
ir  adventurei, 
nd  hear,  their 
lical  BurpriMi 
n,  are  deligbt- 
readiug  for  the 

t  is  a  graphic 
Idower,  to  care 
orbod  in  palnt- 
i;  while  hia  two 
J,  with  irrepre^ 
le.    They  haTC 
rroUicliinglovo 
tb  life  from  a 
lerintoan  ogre, 
pa  and  children 
w  mamma,  the 
r  instincts  have 
d  place.    Surar 
I  over  the  vot 
Idron  and  the 


I   2S 


•*  3>ffISa  rA.;R.li^.A.2T  has  the  very  desirable  knack  of  impartfaf 
Tllbable  ideas  under  the  guise  of  a  pleasing  story." — T/i^  AVw  Century. 

MRS.  HURD'S  NIECE.  V>y  Ella Farman.   111.  %i  50 

A  thrilling  story  for  the  girls,  especially  for  those  who  think 
they  have  a  "  mission,"  to  whom  we  commend  sturdy  English 
Hannah,  with  her  small  means,  and  her  grand  success.  Saidee 
Hurd  13  one  of  the  sweetest  girls  ever  embalmed  in  story,  and 
Lois  Gladstone  one  of  the  noblest. 

THE  COOKING  CLUB  OF  TU-WHIT 
HOLLOW.  By  Ella  Farman,  16  mo. 
Eight  full-page  illustrations  .... 

Worth  reading  by  all  who  delight  in  domestic  romance.— /W/ 
River  Daily  Newt. 

The  practical  instructions  in  housewifery,  which  are  abundant^ 
•re  set  in  the  midst  of  a  bright,  wholesome  story,  and  the  littlo 
hotisewives  who  figure  in  it  are  good  specimens  of  very  humaOt 
but  at  the  same  time  very  lovable,  little  American  girls.  It 
ought  to  be  the  most  successful  little  girls'  book  of  the  season.— 
The  Advance. 

A  LITTLE  WOMAN.   'B^  Ella  Farman,  16m. 

The  daintiest  of  all  juvenile  books.  From  its  merry  pages,  win- 
fiome  Kinnie  Crosby  has  stretched  out  her  warm  little  hand  to 
help  thousands  of  young  girls. 

A  WHITE  HAND.  By  Ella  Farman.  12m.  111. 

A  genuine  painting  of  American  society.     Millicent  and  Jack 
•re  drawn  by  a  bold,  firm  hand.    No  one  can  lay  this  itory  dowa 
.  until  the  last  leaf  is  turned. 


I   00 


1  SO 


WIDE   AWAKE. 

AN  ILLUSTRATED   MAGAZINE 

For  the  Young  Folks. 

ea.OO  I»3Eie,  JV.IT2TX7M:.    TOST^O-E  I'ItEI>XI13- 

Edited  by  ELLA  PABMAN. 
Pnbllihttd  by  S.  liOTHBOP  &  CO.,  Boston,  Maks. 

It  always  contains  a  feast  of  fat  things  for  the  little  folks,  and  folks  who  are  no 
km^er  little  findfthere  lost  childhood  in  its  pages.  We  are  not  sayiiit;  too  much 
when  we  say  that  its  versatile  editor  —  Ella  F'arman,  is  more  fully  at  homa 
in  the  child's  wonder>land  than  any  other  living  American  writer.  She  ii 
thoroughly  en  rapport  with  her  readers,  gives  them  now  a  sugar  plum  of  poety. 
now  a  dainty  ieUy-cake  of  imarination,  and  cunningly  intermixM  all  th«  eolid 
bread  of  thought  th^k  th*  child^t  miad  can  digwt  MM  •■■itnikifi^K>r<>  7W» 


'"^ 


V I  ]<( ;  1  N  I .  \ .     1  Jy  ;r.  y/.  6-'.  Kings  ton.      1 6  mo. 

Illustrated $i   25 

A  Stirling  r.tory  of  adventure  upon  sea  and  land. 

AFRICAN  ADVENTURE  AND  ADVENT- 
URERS.    By  Rev.  G.   T.  Day,  D.  D,     16 

mo.     Illustrated  .         .         .         .         -        .     1  50 

The  stories  of  Spel;p,  flrant,  Baker,  Livingstone  and  Stanley 
are  put  into  nimplc  shape  for  the  entertainment  of  young  readers. 

NOBLE  WORKERS.     Edited  by  S.  F.  Smith, 

D.  D.     i6mo *  S^ 

STORIES  OF  SUCCESS.     Edited  by  S.  F. 

Smith,  D.  D.     i6mo  .         .         .         .         .     x   50 

Inspirinfi  bio'^rnpliics  and  records  which  leave  a  most  whole- 
some and  enduring  effect  upon  the  reader. 

MYTHS  AND  HEROES.  16  mo.  Illus- 
trated.    Edited  by  S.  F.  Smith,  D.  D .         .     i  50 

KNIGHTS  AND  SEA   KINGS.     Edited  by 

S.  F.  Smith,  D.  D.     12 mo.     Illustrated       .     i  50 

Two  entertaining  books,  which  will  fasten  forever  the  historical 
and  geographical  lessons  of  the  school-room  firmly  iu  the  sti^ 
dent's  mind. 

CHAPLIN'S  LIFE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANK- 
LIN.    i6mo.     Illustrated    .... 

UFE  OF  AMOS  LAWRENCE.     i2mo.     III. 

Two  biographies  of  perennial  value.  No  worthier  books  wero 
e?cr  offered  as  holiday  presents  for  our  American  young  men. 

WALTER  NEAL'S  EXAMPLE.  By  Rev. 
Thgron  Brown.     16  mo.     Illustrated  . 

Walter  Neal's  Example  is  by  Rev.  Theron  Brown,  the  editor  of 
that  very  lucccssfiil  paper,  Tfie  J  'mik^s  Cotnpiinion.  The  story 
is  a  touchin;^  one,  and  i;  in  parts  st>  vivid  is  to  -  :  drawu  from 
the  life.  — .V.  ]'.  I nd£ pendent. 

TWO  FORTUNE-S  .^RS.  Stories  by 
Rassiter  jFohnson,  L.  se  Chandler  Afoulton, 
E.  Stuart  Pfulps^  EUa  Fa- man,  etc.  Fully 
illustrated i  50 


»  SO 
I   50 


I  25 


»tflSS  J-TTI.1-A.^.  E^STl^A.iTis  ..nc  of  the  most  popular 
of  our  modern  writers. 


YOU  N  G  R  I C  K .    Dy  7ulia  A.  Eastman.   La  r-e 

iCino.     Twelve;  illustrations  by  .Sol  I'lytinj^e.  $i   50 

A  bri;^ht,  fascinatin;.;  story  of  a  little  boy  who  was  both  a  bless- 
ing  :uk1  ;i  bot]i(.r.—  Boston  Journal. 

The  ninit  (IcHuhtfiil  book  on  tht;  lj<;t  for  the  children  of  tho 
family,  being  full  of  adventures  .infl  pay  limine  sc.nes  and  mrrry 
pl:iy-llnies.  "Paly"  would  have  done  trcdit  tu  I)icken:i  in  hit 
pahnil.:^-t  days.  The  stran;j;e  ijlows  and  shadows  of  her  character 
arc  put  in  lovingly  and  linserjngly,  wiih  the  pencil  of  a  master. 
Miss  Margaret's  character  of  li-ht  ii  admirably  drawn,  while  Aunt 
Lesbia,  Deacon  Ifarkawaj-,  Tom  Dorrance,  and  the  master  and 
mistress  of  Graythorpe  poor-house  are  genuine  "charcoal 
•ketches." 

STRIKING  FOR  TPIE  RIGHT.     By  Julia 
A.  Eastman.     Laro^c  i6ino.     Illustrated 


By 


While  this  stor>'  holds  the  reader  breathless  with  expectancy 
and  excitement,  its  civili/.ing  influence  in  the  family  is  hardly  to 
be  estimated.     In  all  <inarters  it  has  met  with  the  warmest  praise. 

THE  ROMNEVS    OF    RIDGEMONT. 
Julia  A.  East7nan.     161110.     Illustrated 

BEULAH  ROMNEY.     By  Julia  A.  Eastman, 
16  mo.     Illustrated 

Two  stories  wondrously  alive,  flashing  with  fun,  sparkling  with 
tears,  throbbing  with  emotion.  The  next  best  thing  to  attending 
Mrs.  Hale's  big  boardi.ig-scliool  is  to  read  Ueulah's  experience 
there. 

SHORT-COMINGS  AND  LONG-GOINGS. 
By  Julia  A.  Eastman.     16  mo.     Illustrated. 

A  remarkabls  boolv,  crowded  with  remarkable  charncters.  It 
is  a  picture  gallery  of  human  nature. 

KITTY    KENT'S   TROUBLES.      By  Julia 
A.  Eastman.     16  mo.     Illustrated 

"A  delicious  April-day  stj-le  of  book,  sunshiny  with  smiles  on 
one  page  while  the  next  is  misty  with  tender  tears.  Almost  every 
type  of  American  school-girl  is  here  represented-  the  vain  Helen 
Dart,  the  beauty,  Amy  Searle,  the  ambitious,  high  bred,  conserv- 
ative Anna  Matson  ;  but  next  to  Kiiiy  herself  sunny  little  Paul- 
ine Sedgewick  will  prove  the  general  favorite.  It  is  a  story  fully 
calculated  to  win  both  girls  and  boys  toward  noble,  royal  ways  of 
doing  little  as  well  as  great  things.  All  teachers  should  feel  an 
btarest  in  pJadog  it  io  the  hands  of  tJieir  pupila." 


1  75 


»  SO 


I  50 


I  25 


I  5a 


THE  CELL :: RATED 

$1000.  Prize  Series,  16  Vols., 

THE  ORIGINAL  $500.  PRIZE  STORIES, 

THE  NEW  $500.  I'RIZE  SERIES, 
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TTTK   PANSY  BOOKS,  30  Vols.,  which  have  an  incroa*- 
iiig  popularity  greater  than   any  other  books  for  younf 
people  in  this  country, 

BIOGRAPHIES, 

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ILLUSTRATED  NATURAL  HISTORY 

AND     SCIENCE    For  Young  People, 

PICTURE-BOOKS  FOR  CIIILDliEN, 

ILLUSTILVTED  WORKS,       I'OETICAL  GIFT-BOOKS. 

antl 
WHOLESOME    STORIES    IN    GREAT    TARIETY, 

arc  published  1  / 

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BOSTON. 


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Send  lor  one^ 


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are  perhaps  ahead  of  all  other  jjulllahers  in  pro- 
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ENTERTAINMENTS. 


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Entertainments;  Comprising  Directions  for  Holiday 
Morryniakings,  New  Programmes  for  Amateur  Perform- 
ances, and  Many  Novel  Sunday-school  Exercises.  Collect- 
ed and  Edited  by  Lizzie  W.  Champney.  Boston:  D.  Lo- 
tlirop  &  Co.  Price  $1.00.  Mrs.  Champney  is  known  as  a 
p)pular  magazine  writer,  a  poet  of  no  mean  ability, 
Tiie  volume  before  us  is  a  specimen  of  her  skill  in  another 
direction — that  of  selection  and  compilation;  a  work  requir- 
ing rare  Judgment  and  almost  as  much  ability  as  would 
be  necessary  to  produce  an  original  work.  The  table  of  con- 
tents includes  exercises  for  Temperance  gatherings,  Fourth 
of  July,  Missionary  concerts,  Decoration  day.  Thanksgiving 
and  Christmas.  Principally,  however,  they  are  intended  for 
use  at  Sunday-school  exhibitions  and  concerts.  The  ele- 
ment of  entertainment,  says  the  author,  must  enter  even  in- 
to religion,  if  it  is  to  be  dear  to  the  popular  heart.  Enter* 
tainments,  at  any  rate,  the  multitude  will  have;  it  only  re- 
mains for  Christians  to  decide  whether  they  shall  make  this 
•mighty  power  a  Christian  force,  or  leave  all  the  merry  and 
bright  things  of  this  life  to  the  service  of  Satan.  Sundays 
school  literature  is  very  defective  in  dialogues  and  recitJ^- 
ti'>ns  of  an  attractive  character,  and  the  preparation  of  a 
programme  for  such  occasions  is  a  matter  of  supreme  diffl- 
culty.  To  make  it  easier,  and  to  provide  a  source  from 
which  material  may  be  drawn  for  almost  any  occasion,  the 
present  work  has  been  prepared.  Most  of  the  matter  is  new, 
und  is  contributed  by  persons  of  experience  in  musical  mat- 
ters and  entertainments  of  all  kinds. 

A  chapter  on  "  Accessories,  Decorations,  Scenery,"  etc., 
furnishes  full  information  upon  those  subjects,  and  a  num- 
ber of  patterns  for  evergreen  decorations  for  Christmas  en- 
tertainments are  given.  Taken  altogether,  the  book  exactly 
fills  the  place  for  which  it  was  designed,  and  will  be  warmly 
welcomed  not  only  by  schools  and  societies,  but  in  every  fam- 
ily where  there  are  diiluren  to  be  amused  and  Lustructed. 


liixKi^  IN  rtr:T<K'^r'\'B  Life.  By*' Pansy."  Price,  ^1.  SQL 
lio.^ion:  D.  Loli.roi)  &  Co. 

♦*rj»nsy"  has  no  rival  as  an  author  of  the  best  class  of 
fcundty-.-chool  hooks.  Her  "  E-^ter  Ried"  and  "Chautauqua 
Girls"  scries  are  models  in  that  iiiii)()rtaiit  line  of  literature. 
Her  new  hook,  "  IJnks  in  lleljecca's  Life,"  is  worthy  of  a 
place  in  the  same  list.  This  hoolc  is  an  admirahle  one.  It.s 
tone  is  liealthy  and  stiinulaliiig,  without  a  trace  of  senti- 
nientali>-ra  or  cant:  and  its  characters  are  thoroughly  natu- 
ral, such  as  any  reader  can  recognize  In  the  community  In 
which  be  happens  to  live.  The  heroine,  Rebecca,  is  intense- 
ly liuman,  with  a  noble  nature  in  which  many  weaknesses 
hide  themselves  and  coine  often  to  the  sui-face.  But  she  is 
a  Christian  of  the  best  tyi)e,  and  her  aspirations  and  hard- 
fought  battles  inspire  enthusiasm  in  a  reader.  The  Com- 
mittee on  International  Lessons  couldn't  do  a  better  thing 
tlian  to  circulate  this  book  in  every  part  of  the  land.  It 
shows  how  the  lessons  may  he  made  lu'lpful  in  the  dally 
life,  and  how  the  Old  Testament  may  be  taught  with  in- 
terest to  an  Infant  School,  or  to  men  and  women  of  every 
congregation. 


EciioiNO  AND  Rf.-eciioino.  By  Fnye  TTuntington.  Price 
$1.50.     Boston:  I),  Lolhrt)p  &  Co.,  publishers. 

It  shows  great  ignorance  of  the  Sundaj'-school  literature 
of  our  d:iy,  when  one  calls  it  weak  and  namhy-stuff,  with  an 
equal  mixture  of  Idvo-stoiies,  and  impossible  adventures. 
The  censure  is  just  for  a  certain  class  of  books,  but  a  largo 
libi*ary  may  be  gathered  of  llrst-class  woi-ks  admirable  alike 
in  moral  tone  and  in  literai-y  execution,  books  which  every- 
body can  read  with  delight  and  profit.  ''Echoing  and  Re- 
echoing" is  a  book  of  this  sort,  a  well-fold  story,  abounding 
witli  practical  lessons,  and  inciting  to  a  noble  Chi'istian  life. 
The  most  intelligent  opponent  of  religions  riovels  will  fiiul 
his  prejudices  giving  way  in  reading  it,  and  a  fastidious  lit- 
erary reader  will  be  thankful  that  children  have  such  good 
books  for  moulding  tlieir  literary  tastes. 


rice,  $1.60l 

lost  class  of 
'liautauqua 
[  litcraliirc. 
worthy  of  a 
lo  ono.     It^ 
CO.  (if  scnti- 
ushly  nalii- 
mimmity  in 
I,  is  iutcnse- 
wealcnesBes 
But  she  is 
8  and  hard- 
The  Com- 
betlcr  thing 
\\c  huul.     It 
in   \ho.  daily 
ght  with  in- 
luoii  of  every 


ngtoru   Price 

ool  literature 
tuff,  with  an 

adventures. 
:s,  hut  a  largo 
niirahlc  alike 
which  cvory- 
)ing  and  Re- 
y,  abound] ng 

hristian  life. 
^vc\3  will  find 
fastidious  lit- 
iVQ  8ucb  good 


EXCELLENT    BOOKS. 

Six  Months  at  Una.  PiiiOR's.  By  Emily  Adams.  Illus- 
trated.    Boston:  D.  Lothrop  «fe  Co.   1.25. 

*'In  this  fresh  little  story,  which  is  addressed  especially  to 
young  girls,  the  author  tries  to  impress  the  lesson  that  the 
disagreable  and  annoying  duties  of  life  may  be  made  pleasant 
by  accepting  them  as  inevitable,  and  asking  help  from 
above.  Mrs.  Prior  is  the  widow  of  a  clergyman,  and  has 
been  left  with  five  little  ones  to  support.  She  discharges  her 
servant,  and  divides  the  lighter  duties  of  the  household 
between  herself  and  the  two  eldest  of  her  children,  Minnie 
and  Helen.  Unaccustomed  to  any  thing  but  study  and  play, 
the  girls  find  it  very  hard  to  have  their  old  time  appoiutmeuta 
for  enjoyment  circumscribed,  and  complain  bitterly  at  first 
The  book  gives  a  liistory  of  their  experience,  and  shows  how 
the  work  that  was  so  irksome  at  first  became  in  the  end  a 
source  of  pleasure  and  means  of  healthful  discipline. 

**  Six  Months  at  Mrs.  Prior's  "  is  a  sweet  story  of  womanly 
tact  combined  with  christian  trust.  A  widow,  with  scanty 
means,  makes  a  home  happy  for  a  group  of  children,  restless, 
wayward  and  aspiring,  like  many  American  children  of  our 
day.  The  mother's  love  holds  them,  her  thrift  cares  for 
them,  her  firmness  restrains,  and  her  christian  words  and 
life  win  them  to  noble  aims  and  living.  The  influence  of  the 
christian  household  is  widely  felt,  and  the  quiet  transform- 
ing leaven  works  in  many  homes.  We  can't  have  too  mauy 
books  of  this  kind  in  the  family  or  Sund.ay-school." 

Miss  Pricilla  Hunter,  by  Pansy,  opens  a  new  view 
for  that  charming  writer,  but  one  eminently  popular  at  the 
presetit  time.  It  deals  with  the  payment  of  a  church  debt, 
and  shows  how  an  humble  woman,  with  a  Christian  charao 
ter  which  gave  power  to  her  words,  raised  the  money  to  pay 
off  a  debt  which  had  long  been  a  hindrance  to  church  growth 
aiul  to  Christian  benevolence.  Why  she  did  it,  and  how  she 
did  it,  is  told  in  Pansy's  best  fashion:  her  encounters  with 
crabbed  folks,  and  stingy  folks,  and  folks  determined  not  to 
give  to  the  church  debt,  are  highly  amusing,  as  well  as  har 
devices  to  get  something  from  everybody. 


V'J' 


]  r' 


BOOK    NOTICES. 


II 


Walks  to  Emniaus,  By  the  late  Bev.  Nchemiah  Adams 
D.  B.  Edited  l.y  lih  son,  Kev.  William  II.  Adams.  First 
series.  J:imiary-Febriiary.  Boston:  D.  Lotlirop  &  Co. 
12mo.  pp  300.   Price,  $>1.00. 

"This  is  the  first  volume  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
promising  liomilotical  works  of  the  age.  It  will  embrace 
two  sermons  for  every  Sabbath  of  an  entire  year.  It  is  •'  a 
Christian  year,"  yet  not  confined  to  the  liturgy  of  any  single 
denomination  of  Christians,  but  aiming  to  Include  within 
this  compass  one  discourse  on  each  topic  of  ordinary  pasto- 
rtftl  use,  or  the  needs  of  the  religious  reader.  It  is  adapted 
for  the  vacant  pulpit,  the  sick  room,  and  the  private  library. 

It  Is  agreed  that  no  modern  writer  is  better  suited  to  all 
claascs  and  capacities  than  Dr.  Adams.     Encomiums  of  his 

extensively  circulated  religious  publications,  "The  Friends  of 
Christ,"  "Christ  a  Friend,"  "Communion  Sabbath,"  "  Cath- 
arine," "At  Eventide,"  &c.,  &c.  Ilavo  justified  this  selec- 
tion of  more  than  a  himdred  and  twenty  sermons  from  the 
forty  years'  ministry  of  Kev.  Dr.  Adams,  with  the  hope  of 
their  wide  circulntion  among  all  religious  denominations. 
Each  of  the  six  vulumes  now  in  preparation,  to  be  issued 
every  year  or  two,  will  bo  complete  in  itself  although  form- 
ing ft  part  of  this  work  doslgued  .is  "one  years  discourses." 
For,  one  of  the  "fiflli  sabbath  sermons"  may  be  employed 
instead  of  one  for  a  special  occasion,  for  example  "  a  new 
year's  discourse."  Every  evangelical  minister,  theological 
student,  and  household  should  possess  this  crowning  work  of 
an  eminent  divine,  and  standard  religious  writer.  The 
volume  is  tastefully  printed  and  bound." 


IrM::  r  i 


<,  Adams 
9.  First 
)  «fc  Co. 

nd  most 
embrace 
It  is  "  a 
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empK^ycd 
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